HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Apprentices

David Evennett: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how many apprentices the House of Commons Commission employs.

Nick Harvey: The House at present has three full-time apprentices in the Craft Team within the Facilities Department. Currently, one apprentice (hot-water fitter) is working on NVQ level 3 and the two others (Carpenter/joiners) are working on NVQ level 2, having joined the House through the Young Apprenticeship Scheme, sponsored by Mr. Speaker. The scheme has been running for the past five years and offers students from Southwark an opportunity to spend one day per week for one school year in a work area of their choice. The scheme is being further developed so that the students who come to the House—around 10 per year—will spend two years here rather than one and will complete the first level of a modern apprenticeship, commencing in July this year.

WALES

Departmental Computers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many laptop computers have been provided to  (a) Ministers,  (b) special advisers and  (c) civil servants in his Department in each year since 2005; and at what cost.

Paul Murphy: The Wales Office is provided with its IT equipment by the Ministry of Justice and details of procurement costs are not held by my Department. The figures for the current year are given in the table, figures for previous years are not held in the format requested and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			   Number 
			 Ministers 0 
			 Special advisers 0 
			 Civil servants 7

Departmental Energy

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent progress his Department has made towards the target of increasing its energy efficiency per square metre of its Estate by 15 per cent. by 2010, relative to 1999-2000 levels; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Murphy: The Wales Office was only created in 1999. It only has two offices, in London and Cardiff respectively. The Department constantly seeks to increase the energy efficiency of its building. Available figures show that in 2007-08, the Wales Office reduced its energy consumption by 32 per cent. compared to the previous year.

Departmental Energy

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much  (a) electricity,  (b) gas and  (c) other fuel was used by his Department in each of the last 10 years.

Paul Murphy: The Wales Office has spent the following amounts on electricity and other fuels:
	
		
			  £ 
			   Electricity  Other fuels 
			 2002-03 14,440.37 — 
			 2003-04 9,180.72 — 
			 2004-05 4,368.05 — 
			 2005-06 4132.43 8,505.35 
			 2006-07 5,054.06 15,586.45 
			 2007-08 4,007.14 13,746.23 
		
	
	Records for electricity are not available prior to 2002-03 and other fuels before 2005-06.

TRANSPORT

Air Pollution: EU Law

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has requested a derogation from EU air quality legislation in relation to limits on the levels of pollution from  (a) nitrogen dioxide,  (b) ozone and  (c) other nitrogen oxides.

Huw Irranca-Davies: I have been asked to reply.
	Air quality limit values are now met across 99 per cent. of the UK, delivering significant health benefits to the population. The remaining areas of non-compliance are extremely small.
	Council Directive 2008/50/EC on Ambient Air Quality and Cleaner Air for Europe provides for member states to submit plans to the European Commission to postpone the compliance deadline for meeting the limit value for nitrogen dioxide from 2010 to 2015. The UK Government expect to submit such a plan to the Commission in 2010 following consultation later this year.
	No derogation exists for ozone or other oxides of nitrogen.

Bus Services: Concessions

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many bus services covered by the concessionary bus fares scheme for the over 60s would not be available to pass holders under the Travel Concessions (Eligible Services) (Amendment) Order 2009; and what assessment he has made of the cost to local authorities of continuing the concessionary scheme on such services on a discretionary basis.

Paul Clark: The statutory instrument is intended to clarify the existing eligibility criteria, so it is not expected that a large number of services will be affected.
	The Impact Assessment which accompanied the statutory instrument estimated the costs and benefits of the changes. Coach services were considered to be the most likely services to be affected. The total cost to all local authorities in England of paying for these trips which would no longer be eligible was estimated as £80,000 per year.
	The amount of funding provided to local authorities by central government will not be affected by these changes to the eligibility criteria.

Heathrow Airport

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what  (a) risk numbers,  (b) risk descriptions,  (c) measures in place to manage and (d) further actions of risks were contained under business plan objectives (i) 3.2.1, (ii) 3.2.3, (iii) 3.2 and (iv) 3.3.1 of the (A) December 2007, (B) February 2008 and (C) most recent version of the Project Heathrow project delivery and risk reports;
	(2)  what the risk numbers were of the risks contained under business plan objectives  (a) 3.2.1,  (b) 3.2.3,  (c) 3.2 and  (d) 3.3.1 in the (i) December 2007, (ii) February 2008 and (iii) most recent version of the Project Heathrow project delivery and risk reports; and what the (A) impact, (B) likelihood and (C) exposure of the (1) inherent and (2) residual risks was.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Heathrow risks were not reported for either December 2007 or February 2008. The most recent approved version of Heathrow risks is for February 2009. I will arrange for copies to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Heathrow Airport

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what  (a) measures in place and  (b) risks were identified under number 3.1.2 B of the business project objective 3.2.1, Airport and airspace capacity and operations, in the Project Heathrow project delivery and risk report versions of (i) 23 January 2008 and (ii) March 2008, with a proximity designated as immediate; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 23 March 2009
	Heathrow risks for January 2008 and March 2008 were recently released and will be published on the Department's website. I will arrange for copies to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Manchester-Southport Railway Line

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with Northern Rail on levels of service on the Manchester-Southport line; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: Officials in the Department for Transport have regular meetings with Northern Rail. Service provision and performance is always an agenda item. The Secretary of State for Transport is content that despite poor performance recently and a period of planned engineering work, Northern Rail are doing everything possible to reduce levels of disruption to its passengers.

Manchester-Southport Railway Line

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will include the level of disruption to Manchester-Southport rail services on the morning of Thursday 19 March on the agenda of his next franchise review meeting with Northern Rail.

Paul Clark: Officials in the Department for Transport met with Northern Rail on 25 March and performance was discussed; this included disruption on 19 March. The Secretary of State for Transport is content that the underlying issue was a points failure and that Northern Rail made every effort to restore services as quickly as possible.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Iran

Stephen Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the state of Iran's nuclear programme.

Bill Rammell: The International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA)'s latest report of 19 February 2009 shows that Iran continues to refuse to suspend its proliferation sensitive nuclear activities, and has not granted the IAEA the access it seeks, as required by five UN Security Council Resolutions.
	We, and the international community, will remain extremely concerned by Iran's nuclear programme until it fulfils its international obligations and restores confidence in its intentions.

Afghanistan: Detainees

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions since April 2005 Ministers have been informed that UK security officials have raised concerns about allegations of mistreatment of detainees, as referred to in the Government's Response to paragraph 126 of the Intelligence and Security Committee's Report on the Handling of Detainees by UK Intelligence Personnel in Afghanistan, Guantánamo Bay and Iraq, Cm 6511.

David Miliband: It is the long-standing policy of the Government not to comment on operational intelligence matters.
	We take any alleged mistreatment of detainees extremely seriously. All UK intelligence officers and service personnel are given strict guidance about the standards that we apply during the detention and interviewing of detainees overseas, including on working with liaison partners. This guidance is kept under constant review by the Agencies, in keeping with the UK's obligations under the UN Convention against Torture, Article 11. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made a written ministerial statement to Parliament on 18 March 2009,  Official Report, column 55WS, undertaking to publish this guidance, once it has been consolidated and reviewed by the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC), in order to put beyond doubt the terms under which our Agencies and service personnel operate. He also asked the ISC to consider any new developments and relevant information since their reports into detention (2005) and rendition (2007).

Afghanistan: Elections

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects elections to take place in Afghanistan; and what steps the Government are taking to facilitate such elections.

Bill Rammell: The Afghan Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), established under Afghanistan's 2004 Constitution, is responsible for administering Afghanistan's elections. The IEC has announced that presidential and provincial council elections be held on 20 August 2009. Parliamentary and district council elections are due in 2010.
	We are actively working in support of the Afghans, UN and the International Security Assistance Force to help ensure successful Afghan elections which are critical to Afghanistan's future. We have so far committed £16.6 million to supporting the elections. This funding is paid to the UN Development Programme (UNDP) run enhancing legal and electoral capacity for tomorrow (ELECT) project, which provides technical and capacity-building assistance in support of Afghanistan's electoral cycle.
	More details on the ELECT project are available online at:
	http://www.undp.org.af/WhoWeAre/UNDPinAfghanistan/Projects/dcse/pri_elect.htm
	In Afghanistan, we are in regular dialogue with the UNDP, the IEC and other international donors on preparations for the elections. On the ground in Helmand, British military and civilians are working closely with the IEC and Afghan national security forces to support preparations. Afghan-led security has ensured that voter registration was conducted across Afghanistan without major incidents.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what conditions he will require to be satisfied before British troops may be withdrawn from Afghanistan.

Bill Rammell: It is vital to UK national security interests that Afghanistan becomes a stable and secure state, able to suppress terrorism and violent extremism within its borders and to contribute to the same objective across the border in Pakistan.
	The UK is fully committed to supporting the government of Afghanistan until it is able to establish the right security environment in which accountable and effective institutions can develop and where Afghan-led reconstruction and development can happen. Our approach is in line with the long-term and comprehensive framework for security, political, social and economic development for Afghanistan outlined by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the House of Commons, on 12 December 2007,  Official Report, columns 303-07.

Burma: Politics and Government

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps the Government has taken to monitor the political situation in Burma.

Bill Rammell: Our embassy in Rangoon continues its regular contact with representatives of political and ethnic groups, local and international non-governmental organisations, political prisoner support networks, and UN agencies operating on the ground, and our ambassador maintains a robust dialogue with ministers and officials in the military government.
	We also remain in close contact with the UN Secretary-General, his special adviser Ibrahim Gambari, and the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Burma. We discuss Burma frequently with countries in the region including China, India and Burma's fellow members of the Association of South East Asian Nations. Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development officials are in touch with a wide range of stakeholder groups outside of Burma, including in neighbouring Thailand and in the UK.

Caucasus: Conflict Prevention

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 25 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 17-19WS, on conflict resources 2009-10, how much funding will be allocated to conflict prevention in the Caucasus in 2009-10; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Approximately £4 million has been allocated to conflict prevention work and international secondments to peacekeeping missions in the Caucasus. This is in addition to the UK's assessed contributions to the UN Peacekeeping mission in Georgia (UNOMiG); and UK contributions to the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy budget and the costs of the Organisation Security and Co-operation in Europe field missions in the region.
	Further details on changes to funding of projects and future activities were set out in my letter to the chairman of the European scrutiny committee of 25 March 2009, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

Departmental Finance

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2009,  Official Report, column 625W, on departmental public expenditure, who the budget holders with devolved responsibility are; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office operates a mechanism of devolved budget responsibility. Budgets are initially devolved to director-generals and those responsible for the delivery of the departmental strategic objectives. These are further devolved to directors and heads of mission.

Departmental Finance

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 217-20W, on departmental public expenditure, what guidance has been given to budget holders with devolved responsibility on managing the funding implications of adverse exchange movements; and if he will place a copy of this guidance in the Library.

David Miliband: All budget holders are aware that they must manage the expenditure falling within their devolved budgets to take account of such contingencies.
	Budgets are supplemented for overseas price mechanism adjustments from the centre.

Departmental Finance

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2009,  Official Report, column 625W, on departmental public expenditure, when the next quarterly review process is expected to be completed; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent quarterly review.

David Miliband: The quarterly review takes place after each quarter end throughout the financial year. The next quarterly review will take place at the end of June 2009.
	The quarterly review does not culminate in a report that can be placed in the Library of the House.

Elections: Monitoring

Bruce George: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs from which budget heading his Department will allocate funding for Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe election observation in future.

Caroline Flint: We greatly value the election observation work of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). We will continue to uphold the commitment we made in 2004 to provide, from the UK, up to 10 per cent. of observers to the OSCE's election observation missions on, an ad hoc basis.
	Decisions on internal resource allocations are still under way and we are considering the details of arrangements for funding the UK contribution.

Elections: Monitoring

Bruce George: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many election observation missions planned by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe/Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights for 2009 the UK plans to participate in; and how many observers his Department intends to fund.

Caroline Flint: We greatly value the election observation work of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). We will continue to uphold the commitment we made in 2004 to provide, from the UK, up to 10 per cent. of observers to the OSCE's election observation missions on an ad hoc basis. No decisions have been made on exact numbers for missions in 2009.

Elections: Monitoring

Bruce George: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe/Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights following his announcement on UK contributions to election observation.

Caroline Flint: We wrote to the Secretary-General of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to inform him of the final decision on funding following the announcement to Parliament. There have been no discussions specifically on election observations.
	We greatly value the election observation work of the OSCE. We will continue to uphold the commitment we made in 2004 to provide, from the UK, up to 10 per cent. of observers to the OSCE's election observation missions on an ad hoc basis.

Elections: Monitoring

Bruce George: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage contribution to Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe election observation missions the UK plans to make in the future.

Caroline Flint: We greatly value the election observation work of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). We will continue to uphold the commitment we made in 2004 to provide, from the UK, up to 10 per cent. of observers to the OSCE's election observation missions on an ad hoc basis.

European Union

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of  (a) heads of representation and  (b) other staff of European Communities representative offices outside the EU are British nationals.

Caroline Flint: We do not hold this information. The relevant data is owned by the European Commission.

European Union

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many A Grade level staff of each nationality work for  (a) the EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy and  (b) the EU external action service.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) We do not hold this information. The relevant data is owned by the Secretariat of the Council of Ministers of the EU.
	 (b) None. The EU external action service would only be set up were the Lisbon Treaty to come into force.

European Union

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to which international bodies the European Commission has supplied a declaration of treaty competences.

Caroline Flint: We do not hold this information. The relevant data is owned by the European Commission.

Gibraltar

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what borrowing powers the governments of  (a) Gibraltar,  (b) the Isle of Man and  (c) Guernsey have.

Caroline Flint: Under the 2006 Gibraltar constitution, borrowing powers are a matter for the Government of Gibraltar.
	The States of Guernsey is a self-governing democracy and regulates its own financial and fiscal affairs, which includes the power to borrow. The Isle of Man Government's powers of borrowing are set out in the Isle of Man Loans Act 1974.

Hezbollah

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 23 March 2009,  Official Report, column 28W, on Hezbollah, on what basis he concluded that political contacts with Hezbollah's political wing would now be productive; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: Following the Doha Agreement of May 2008 and further positive political developments in Lebanon, we consider that targeted contacts with Hezbollah politicians will provide an opportunity to speak frankly and directly about state-building in Lebanon, regional stability and the peace process. We will also continue to re-iterate the need to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701 in full. Our policy allows us to recognise the legitimate political role that Hezbollah plays in Lebanon, while taking a tough stance on terrorism.

Madagascar: Politics and Government

Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the political situation in Madagascar.

Gillian Merron: Our high commission in Port Louis which covers Madagascar, has provided frequent political reporting since the current crisis in Madagascar intensified at the end of January 2009. Our officers in Port Louis have visited Antananarivo during this period, to gather information from officials, diplomatic representatives, international organisations such as the EU, US, and UN, business contacts and the non-governmental organisations community in Madagascar and capitals. Staff in our British interest section and honorary consulates in Antananarivo and Tamatave also provide regular updates. We remain very concerned by the situation in Madagascar and urge all sides to seek a resolution which ensures a return to the constitutional and democratic process.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to comply with the Government's responsibility as a High Contracting Party to the Geneva Convention in respect of the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on Israel's wall in the West Bank; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: While the advisory opinions of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) are not legally binding, and do not impose international legal obligations on third parties, such as the UK, we continue to lobby the Government of Israel to ensure that any Israeli barrier is constructed within Green Line Israel. The Government agree with the conclusion of the ICJ that the construction of the barrier along the chosen route, and its associated security regime, is unlawful under international law. Building the barrier on occupied land is contrary to international law.
	The Government have consistently made this position clear, and supported the UN General Assembly Resolution which acknowledged the ICJ advisory opinion on the legal consequences of the construction of the barrier in Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the number of  (a) rockets and  (b) mortar shells fired at Israel since 3 February 2009 from (i) Gaza and (ii) Lebanon; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Since 3 February 2009 there have been two rockets fired at Israel from Lebanon. The Israeli authorities report that from 13 February 2009 to 6 March 2009 there were 63 rockets and 43 mortars fired at Israel from Gaza.

Nuclear Weapons: Arms Control

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the Statement during the Prime Minister's address to the US Congress that the UK would work with the United States of America to reduce stockpiles of nuclear weapons, what steps the Government is taking to achieve that objective.

Bill Rammell: We regularly discuss with US officials the implementation of all aspects of the Non-Proliferation Treaty including Article 6 disarmament obligations. We are working with the US, and other P5 partners on the agenda for the UK hosted P5 Conference on the Verification of Disarmament to be held in September 2009. We welcomed the recent announcement by the US to conclude a successor to the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty which is due to expire in December 2009.

Overseas Trade: Prices

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 2 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1250W, on overseas trade: prices, on how many occasions Ministers in his Department attended meetings to discuss the withdrawal of support for the overseas price mechanism; which Ministers from his Department attended these meetings; and when the meetings were held.

David Miliband: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers and Officials have discussions with a variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. It is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Overseas Trade: Prices

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 2 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1250W, on overseas trade: prices, what assessment was made by his Department of the merits of the withdrawal of support for the overseas price mechanism; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers and officials discussed the comprehensive spending review with HM Treasury Ministers and officials prior to the announcement on the overseas price mechanism (OPM). These discussions covered the working of the OPM.

Pakistan: Terrorism

Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with representatives of the government of Pakistan on the political situation in Pakistan following the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team.

Bill Rammell: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) officials of our high commission in Islamabad have frequent discussions about the political and security situation in Pakistan with a wide range of Pakistani Ministers, politicians and officials.
	FCO officials in the UK regularly engage with visiting members of the Pakistani Government and officials of the Pakistani high commission in London. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the situation in Pakistan with President Asif Zardari on 12 March 2009.

Sri Lanka: Armed Conflict

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps the Government has taken to encourage the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers to reopen peace talks.

Bill Rammell: As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has made clear, in his oral response of 24 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 140-43, our view remains that a political solution is the only way to bring a sustainable end to the conflict in Sri Lanka. Our consistent position remains that for peace to be sustainable, an inclusive political process that takes fully into account the legitimate concerns of all Sri Lankan communities—Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim—is essential. Our high commission in Colombo takes every opportunity to convey this to the Government of Sri Lanka. As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made clear in his written ministerial statement of 21 January 2009,  Official Report, column 31WS, we continue to engage with all political parties across all communities in Sri Lanka to support progress in this direction.

Sudan: Overseas Aid

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to secure the return of aid agencies expelled from Darfur; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The Sudanese government's decision to expel humanitarian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) is incomprehensible and unacceptable. We have called on the Sudanese authorities directly and publicly to reverse the measure and continue to allow the full provision of humanitarian assistance.
	Our ambassador in Khartoum has urged the government of Sudan to allow NGOs to continue their work.
	The UN Security Council agreed a statement on 26 March 2009 urging the government of Sudan to continue co-operating with the UN and humanitarian organisations and appealing to it to reconsider the decision on suspending the activities of some NGOs in Sudan.
	The EU presidency issued a statement on similar lines on 10 March 2009 which EU Foreign Ministers reaffirmed at their meeting on 16 March 2009.
	My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, and other Ministers have also raised the humanitarian situation with China, Russia and a wide range of African leaders and urged them to also press the government of Sudan to reverse its decision. We will continue to do this, in close co-ordination with EU partners and the US.

Tokyo

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visits were made by Ministers to Tokyo in the financial year 2007-08.

Bill Rammell: There were nine visits to Tokyo in the financial year 2007-08.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Congo Basin Forest Fund

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change who represents the Government on the governing body of the Congo Basin Forest Fund.

Gareth Thomas: I have been asked to reply.
	The UK Government are represented on the Congo Basin Forest Fund's (CBFF) Governing Council by the Department for International Development (DFID). A Director from DFID's Africa Division represents the Minister of State on the Governing Council.

Met Office: Finance

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the budget of the Met Office Hadley Centre is in each year from 2008-09 to 2013-14.

Kevan Jones: I have been asked to reply.
	The planned budget is currently in the region of £20 million a year.

OLYMPICS

Olympic Games 2012: Cumbria

Jamie Reed: To ask the Minister for the Olympics 
	(1)  what assessment the Government Olympic Executive has made of the effect on the supply chain in  (a) Cumbria and  (b) Copeland constituency of the construction process for Olympic venues;
	(2)  what estimate the Government Olympic Executive has made of the revenue to the construction industry supply chain which will accrue from the construction of Olympic venues.

Tessa Jowell: London 2012 will directly procure £6 billion worth of contracts. This investment will be recycled many times over through the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games' (LOCOG) supply chains through as many as 75,000 sub contracts. 50,000 of these will be in the ODA's supply chains.
	It is difficult to estimate the full impact on the supply chain of the construction programme. However, the ODA is currently conducting research in its supply chains on a venue by venue basis, which may give us a better picture at a regional level. I will ensure you receive this information for the North West region once this is available.
	To the end of January 2009, 35 businesses registered in the North West had won a contract directly supplying the ODA. This includes one business registered in Cumbria. No businesses registered in Copeland have won contracts to date. Additionally, three other businesses registered in the region have won contracts in the London 2012 supply chains through CompeteFor.
	Businesses interested in getting involved in the games should be encouraged to sign up to CompeteFor, the electronic brokerage service that is designed to give business across the country access to contracts in the London 2012 supply chains. To date, over 2,200 opportunities have been posted on CompeteFor.

TREASURY

Bank Services: Charities

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons the Financial Services Compensation Scheme has not allowed  (a) the Christie charity's claim for £6.5 million and  (b) the Christie Hospital's claim for £1 million after the collapse of Kaupthing, Singer and Friedlander.

Angela Eagle: The rules of the financial services compensation scheme (FSCS), which are made by the FSA, can be found in the Compensation Sourcebook (COMP) section of the FSA's handbook—available on the FSA website at:
	www.fsa.gov.uk
	There are no rules dealing specifically with charities, so FSCS's assessment of eligibility will turn on how a charity is legally constituted, and by applying its rules in the usual way.
	The FSCS and FSA operate independently of the Treasury. The FSCS must administer the scheme in accordance with the rules, including the assessment of whether or not a claimant is eligible for compensation. The FSCS has no discretion to act outside these rules.
	Treasury Group performance for the period 2005-06 to 2007-08 can be found at Page 97 of the Treasury's Annual Report for 2007-08 (Cm 7408).
	Utilities consumption for HM Treasury in 1 Horse Guards Road for 2003-04 and 2004-05 is shown on the following table. Additional data for both OGC and DMO cannot be provided as this information would have been gathered by managing agents used at the time by these Departments.
	
		
			  mWh 
			   2003-04  2004-05 
			 Electricity 8,195 7,647 
			 Gas 3,807 3,958 
		
	
	Information on previous years' consumption can be obtained only at disproportionate costs.

Bank Services: Loans

Sally Keeble: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent assessment is of the extent to which banks which have been recapitalised by the Government are complying with their agreements to provide mortgages and commercial loans at 2007 levels.

Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, my hon. Friend the Member for Dudley, South (Ian Pearson), on this subject on 10 March 2009,  Official Report, column 254W.

Banks: Finance

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  with reference to his Department's press notice of 19 January 2009 on the Asset Protection Scheme, what criteria will be used to determine what proportion of the value of the security will be guaranteed;
	(2)  with reference to his Department's press notice of 19 January 2009 on the Asset Protection Scheme, what further due diligence will be undertaken in respect of securities identified as triple A rated before they are included in the scheme.
	(3)  with reference to his Department's press notice of 19 January 2009 on the Asset Protection Scheme, what the remit for the investigations by his Department into the proposed eligible assets for inclusion in the Asset Protection scheme is; and when he expects such investigations to be concluded;
	(4)  what the  (a) maturity profile and  (b) asset type is of each eligible asset of (i) Lloyds Banking Group and (ii) Royal Bank of Scotland insured under the Asset Protection Scheme.

Ian Pearson: In order to restore confidence to financial markets, the focus of the Asset Protection Scheme is on the most uncertain assets on the books of UK banks. Details of the eligibility criteria for the inclusion of assets in the scheme were set out in the Treasury's press notice of 26 February.
	The Treasury and its advisers have been working with participating banks to identify eligible assets and conduct due diligence on them.
	Further details are set out in the document on the UK Asset Protection Scheme that the Chancellor placed in the House Library on 27 February.

Banks: Regulation

Dai Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he plans to take on remuneration policies of banks in receipt of recapitalisation from the public purse in light of the recommendations of the Turner Report on the regulatory response to the global banking crisis.

Angela Eagle: The Government have taken a number of steps in relation to banks' remuneration policies, including imposing remuneration requirements as part of the recapitalisation programme and the Asset Protection Scheme (APS).
	The FSA is currently consulting on its code of practice on remuneration. Banks that participate in the APS are required to review their remuneration policies and come up with long-term strategies that prevent excessive risk-taking in line with the FSA's code of practice.
	UK Financial Investments Ltd. (UKFI), which manages the Government's shareholdings in financial institutions on a commercial and arm's length basis, has been overseeing the remuneration conditions attached to subscribing to the Government's recapitalisation fund, and the Treasury's Asset Protection Scheme. UKFI has worked to ensure management incentivisation based on long-term, sustainable performance and no rewards for failure, in order to protect the interest of the taxpayer as a shareholder.

Banks: Regulation

Dai Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to give any new  (a) powers and  (b) responsibilities to the Financial Services Authority in respect of the recommendations made by Lord Turner in his report on the regulatory response to the global banking crisis.

Angela Eagle: The Government plan to publish a document on financial services regulation around the time of the budget.

Banks: Regulation

Dai Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the conclusion of the Turner Report on the regulatory response to the global banking crisis that a complete legal distinction of narrow banking from market-making activities is not feasible.

Angela Eagle: We currently do not believe that the case has yet been made for a Glass-Steagall style split between retail banking and investment banking activities but will continue to keep this issue under review.

Climate Change Levy: Combined Heat and Power

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the likely effects on the development of new combined heat and power (CHP) plants of the extension of Enhanced Capital Allowances to all potential CHP developers including licensed electricity suppliers;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effect on the development of new combined heat and power (CHP) plants and their contribution towards UK CHP targets of a cessation of climate change levy exemptions for electricity outputs after March 2013;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the effect on the operation of existing combined heat and power plants of a cessation of climate change levy exemptions for electricity outputs after March 2013;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the effects of exempting electricity outputs of combined heat and power plants from the climate change levy on  (a) managing the energy costs of UK manufacturing and  (b) achieving carbon dioxide emissions savings in energy production.

Angela Eagle: The Government recognise the role that combined heat and power (CHP) plays in helping the UK achieve its climate change targets, and provides support for CHP through a range of measures, including the current exemptions from the climate change levy, targeted enhanced capital allowances for good quality CHP, exemption from business rates and the carbon price signal arising from the EU ETS.
	The Government keep all taxes under review and any decisions are made by the Chancellor as part of the Budget process.

Departmental Buildings

John Pugh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what buildings are owned or operated by his Department under a private finance initiative (PFI) arrangement; and which companies are involved with each such PFI arrangement.

Angela Eagle: 1 Horse Guards Road, London is operated on behalf of the Treasury by Exchequer Partnership plc under a private finance initiative agreement.

Departmental Energy

Greg Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much  (a) electricity,  (b) gas and  (c) other fuel was used by (i) his Department and (ii) each of its agencies in each of the last 10 years.

Angela Eagle: HM Treasury Group—including the Office of Government Commerce (OGC), and the Debt Management Office (DMO)—as with other central Government Departments, reports performance data on its energy consumption for its office estate annually as part of the Sustainable Development in Government reporting process in order to assess performance against the target to reduce carbon emissions from offices by 12.5 per cent. by 2010-11.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what  (a) capital funds and  (b) resource funds his Department has brought forward from its (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11 budgets for use in (A) 2008-09 and (B) 2009-10; and what schemes this funding is being used to support.

Angela Eagle: The Treasury has not brought forward any of its departmental budget into 2008-09 from 2009-10 and currently has no plans to bring forward any of its 2010-11 budget into 2009-10.

Departmental Training

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent on media training for each Minister in his Department in each of the last three years; how many sessions have been provided; and who provided such training.

Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Hammersmith and Fulham (Mr. Hands) on 25 March 2009,  Official Report, column 406W. Of the £1,285 total expenditure given in that previous answer, £1,035 was for media training.

Departmental Travel

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much staff of each grade in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies spent on first class travel in the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available.

Angela Eagle: Information on the number and class of tickets purchased is not normally held, because the Treasury's accounting system records the costs of travel but not the number or type of tickets bought. However, for financial year 2007-08, the travel management company provided information on the number and type of tickets purchased through them. Tickets bought but subsequently refunded are excluded and some tickets are bought directly by the traveller, so this information is not a complete record of all tickets bought. Using information from the travel management company, combined spending of HM Treasury and the Debt Management Office in 2007-08 on first class travel was £549,000.
	Since 1999, the Government have published, on an annual basis, a list of all overseas visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500, as well as the total cost of all ministerial travel overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. All travel is undertaken in accordance with the 'Civil Service Management Code' and the 'Ministerial Code'.

Insurance: Funerals

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward measures to ensure that elderly people paying towards a funeral plan can be issued with a paid-up policy rather than continue to pay premiums in excess of the sum assured.

Ian Pearson: The regulation of whole of life insurance policies sold to help meet funeral expenses is a matter for the FSA. Insurance policies are based on the principle of sharing risk between policyholders, and the terms of these policies must be explained to the consumer. If a consumer does not feel these terms were explained and they are unsatisfied with the response to their complaints to their provider, they can ask the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) to consider their case.

Members: Correspondence

Alistair Burt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Financial Secretary to the Treasury plans to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for North East Bedfordshire of 24 November 2008 and 8 January 2009 on the Tax Credit Office.

Stephen Timms: The correspondence referred to could not be traced. The hon. Member's office has supplied copies and a reply should be provided shortly.

Members: Correspondence

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Northavon of 3 December 2008 on behalf of Mr A Edgington of Coalpit Heath, on membership of HM Treasury working party.

Angela Eagle: A reply has been sent to the hon. Member.

Performing Arts

John Mason: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1193W, on Members: correspondence, what the cost to his Department was of engaging actors to contribute to training programmes organised by his Department in each year since 1997.

Angela Eagle: The costs of using actors within training programmes are not separately invoiced and their use is not centrally recorded. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Royal Bank of Scotland: Pensions

John Butterfill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the amount paid by the Government to the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has been allocated to the RBS pension scheme; what estimate he has made of the current deficit of the RBS pension scheme; whether Sir Fred Goodwin has commuted any part of his pension entitlement into a lump sum; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: Details of the position on the RBS Group pension fund are set out in the annual accounts, available on the RBS website.
	Sir Fred Goodwin has converted part of his pension entitlement into a lump sum, but RBS has asked him to consider waiving part of his entitlement.

Tax Allowances: Pensioners

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse to cease reducing the age-related allowance for people  (a) between 65 and 74 and  (b) over 75 years old when their income exceeds the income limit.

Stephen Timms: The full-year cost for 2008-09 of not reducing age-related allowance for taxpayers with income above the income limit is around £420 million for those aged 65 to 74, and £270 million for those aged 75 and over.
	These estimates are based on the Survey of Personal incomes for 2005-06 projected forward in line with pre-Budget report 2008 assumptions.

Tax Avoidance

John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many holders of offshore bank accounts have declared unpaid tax bills under the partial amnesty announced by his Department; and what his estimate is of the revenue foregone by the Exchequer arising from such unpaid tax liabilities in the last five years.

Stephen Timms: 31,700 people came forward to disclose previously unreported tax liabilities in response to the Offshore Disclosure Facility launched in April 2007 following HM Revenue and Customs having obtained specific information of offshore bank accounts. Those disclosures resulted in £400 million being recovered. There are no reliable estimates of the overall tax losses associated with such accounts.

Tax Credit

Roger Gale: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average length of time taken by the Adjudicator's Office to process reviews of decisions taken by HM Revenue and Customs was in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The average investigation turnaround was 23 weeks in 2007-08.
	Information relating to investigation turnaround of all investigations in 2008-09 will be collated at the end of the financial year and will be published in the Adjudicator's Office 2008-09 annual report.

Taxation: Video Games

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made for benchmarking purposes of the effectiveness of the tax incentives provided to the video games development industry in the UK compared to those of other countries.

Angela Eagle: The Government are committed to supporting enterprise and innovation in all sectors, including the creative industries. A number of measures are available to assist small and developing companies, such as those found in the video games sector, in overcoming barriers to growth. Companies in the games industry are amongst those innovative companies benefiting from the UK's generous and recently enhanced R and D tax credit, though no assessment is available by individual sector.
	The UK remains a highly competitive place to do business. At 28 per cent. the main rate of corporation tax is the lowest in the G7, and at its lowest ever rate.
	The small companies rate, at 21 per cent. in 2008-09 is highly competitive internationally.

VAT: Food

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what provision EU directives on value added tax make for the imposition of value added tax at a rate other than zero on the sale of specially-formulated, very low calorie diet products.

Stephen Timms: Under EU VAT agreements, supplies of goods and services are subject to the standard rate of VAT except where specific provisions permit the application of a lower rate.
	The Principal VAT Directive allows member states to apply a reduced rate of VAT of not less than 5 per cent. to foodstuffs, including beverages other than alcoholic beverages, and the UK is also allowed to continue to apply a zero rate to those supplies, including food, whose supply was zero-rated at 1 January 1991, although the scope of this zero rate may not be extended.

Working Tax Credit

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in the Portsmouth travel-to-work area have been  (a) underpaid and  (b) overpaid working tax credit in the last two years.

Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 23 February 2009,  Official Report, column 333W.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to answer Question 256549 tabled on 29 January 2009 by the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South on tax credit; and what the reasons are for the time taken to answer.

Stephen Timms: I have now replied to the hon. Member and apologise for the delay, which was due to an administration error.

JUSTICE

Civil Service

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent progress has been made in preparations for legislative proposals to underpin the role, governance and values of the Civil Service.

Michael Wills: The Governance of Britain Green Paper set out the Government's commitment to bring forward legislation to enshrine the governance, core principles and values of the civil service in law. The draft Constitutional Renewal Bill contained provisions in respect of the civil service. It remains the Government's intention to bring forward this legislation, and the Bill is in the final stages of drafting.

Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was spent on the recruitment exercise for a Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses.

Jack Straw: The total cost of the recruitment campaign in 2006 for the role of Victims' Commissioner was £96,625.

Courts: Travel

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what resources have been made available to meet the travel and accommodation costs of people living in Torbay for attendance at video conferencing facilities for hearings by  (a) HM Courts Service and  (b) the Legal Services Commission;
	(2)  what steps have been taken by  (a) HM Courts Service and  (b) the Legal Services Commission to facilitate video links to hearings for people in Torbay; and how far anyone living in Torbay would be expected to travel to a video link by (i) HM Courts Service and (ii) the Legal Services Commission;
	(3)  what  (a) procedures and  (b) policies his Department and the bodies it sponsors have put in place to minimise the amount spent on travel and accommodation by lawyers representing them at court hearings;
	(4)  what procedures are in place to facilitate the attendance of litigants in person at administrative court hearings in circumstances where funding is not available from the Legal Services Commission;
	(5)  what funds are available to HM Courts Service to facilitate the attendance at court hearings of litigants in person who do not have the means to pay for travel and accommodation;
	(6)  if he will take steps to assist litigants in person who do not have the financial means to attend a hearing at the Administrative Court to present their case  (a) in person and  (b) by videolink; and what mechanisms HM Courts Service has in place in respect of litigants in person who are unable to attend hearings;
	(7)  if he will put in place mechanisms to monitor levels of access to legal redress for individuals resident outside the area of the High Court to ensure that such individuals are not disadvantaged;
	(8)  if he will take steps to ensure that litigants in person have equality of arms in respect of proceedings involving Government departments.

Bridget Prentice: I will write to the hon. Member when I am in a position to do so and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Crimes of Violence: Prosecutions

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many individuals were prosecuted for  (a) attempted murder,  (b) manslaughter and  (c) rape in (i) England and Wales, (ii) the North East, (iii) Tees Valley district and (iv) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency in each year since 1997.

Maria Eagle: The number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts, for attempted murder, manslaughter, and rape, in Cleveland police force area, the north east region, and England and Wales, 1997 to 2007 is shown in the following table.
	Court proceedings data are not available at constituency level, thus Cleveland police force area data have been provided in lieu.
	These data are on the principal offence basis. The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	Court proceedings data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.
	
		
			  The number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts, for attempted murder, manslaughter, and rape, in Cleveland police force area, the north east region, and England and Wales, 1997 to 2007( 1, 2, 3) 
			   Proceeded against 
			   Cleveland police force area  North east region  England and Wales 
			  Attempted murder
			 1997 10 31 436 
			 1998 7 17 431 
			 1999 9 25 418 
			 2000 2 12 403 
			 2001 11 26 585 
			 2002 4 12 465 
			 2003 19 30 512 
			 2004 5 17 417 
			 2005 5 18 354 
			 2006 7 9 357 
			 2007 10 14 333 
			 
			  Manslaughter
			 1997 1 4 94 
			 1998 0 6 100 
			 1999 0 5 115 
			 2000 3 8 136 
			 2001 4 8 141 
			 2002 1 7 112 
			 2003 0 2 94 
			 2004 1 5 137 
			 2005 5 10 91 
			 2006 2 8 114 
			 2007 0 4 105 
			 
			  Rape (Actual)
			 1997 12 109 1,794 
			 1998 18 159 2,012 
			 1999 16 142 1,986 
			 2000 17 141 1,865 
			 2001 19 126 2,417 
			 2002 32 126 2,698 
			 2003 34 131 2,550 
			 2004 24 109 2,453 
			 2005 41 128 2,558 
			 2006 32 123 2,335 
			 2007 31 109 2,138 
			 (1 )These data are on the principal offence basis. (2 )Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3 )Includes the following statutes and corresponding offence descriptions:  Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.1, Rape of a female aged under 16.  Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.1, Rape of a female aged 16 or over.  Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.1, Rape of a male aged under 16.  Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.1, Rape of a male aged 16 or over.  Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.5, Rape of a female child under 13 by a male.  Sexual Offences Act 2003 S.5, Rape of a male child under 13 by a male.  Source:  Office for Criminal Justice Reform, Evidence & Analysis Unit—Ministry of Justice

Departmental Lost Property

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether officials in his Department who have lost laptops that were the property of his Department in the last 12 months have been charged the full value of replacement.

Jack Straw: Laptop losses are investigated by line managers and, where appropriate, disciplinary action is considered, in line with the Department's policy. The Department has not charged individuals for the replacement value of laptops which were lost by officials in the period May 2007, when the Ministry was established, to March 2008.

Departmental Training

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many staff awaydays his Department has held since its creation.

Shahid Malik: The Ministry of Justice does not hold centrally information on how many staff awaydays were organised. To collate this information would necessitate inquiring of all business areas across significant number of MOJ bodies, which would entail disproportionate cost.

Liverpool Prison: Cemeteries

Edward O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Torbay of 19 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 71-3W, on Walton Prison: cemeteries, 
	(1)  what steps his Department has taken to resolve  (a) any outstanding exhumation and funeral costs of and  (b) matters relating to DNA testing in respect of George Kelly;
	(2)  what the  (a) role and  (b) pay band is of the official in his Department responsible for resolving any outstanding issues in the George Kelly case;
	(3)  if he will direct the Corporate Management Board of his Department to make an assessment of his Department's handling of matters relating to the George Kelly case in the light of the representations it has received on the matter;
	(4)  how many submissions have been made to Ministers in his Department and its predecessor in respect of the George Kelly case, and on what dates; and what the  (a) role and  (b) pay band was of each official who (i) drafted and (ii) was copied in on each submission.

David Hanson: I will write to the hon. Member when I am in a position to do so and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

National Offender Management Service: Finance

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the budget for each probation area was in  (a) 2006-07,  (b) 2007-08 and  (c) 2008-09.

Jack Straw: The resource budget for each probation area is shown in the following table. These give the budget as at the end of the year. The 2008-09 figures may possibly be subject to change.
	
		
			  Probation boards end-year budgets 
			  £000 
			  Boards  Revenue 2008-09  Revenue 2007-08  Revenue 2006-07 
			 Avon and Somerset 20,727 20,661 19,771 
			 Bedfordshire 9,571 8,863 8,499 
			 Cambridgeshire 10,341 9,727 9,273 
			 Cheshire 15,571 14,715 15,688 
			 Cumbria 8,376 8,217 7,897 
			 Derbyshire 15,168 13,490 12,891 
			 Devon and Cornwall 21,037 20,225 19,638 
			 Dorset 9,408 8,522 8,277 
			 Durham 11,148 10,720 10,245 
			 Essex 20,319 19,977 18,922 
			 Gloucestershire 7,858 7,379 6,959 
			 Hampshire 25,614 24,338 23,057 
			 Hertfordshire 11,750 11,265 10,569 
			 Humberside 18,380 17,187 16,130 
			 Kent 21,798 20,993 20,340 
			 Lancashire 24,406 22,979 21,394 
			 Leicestershire 15,668 14,402 13,805 
			 Lincolnshire 9,794 9,292 9,038 
			 Norfolk 11,980 11,168 10,608 
			 Northamptonshire 9,673 9,116 8,816 
			 North Yorkshire 10,350 10,236 9,478 
			 Nottinghamshire 19,686 19,057 18,117 
			 Staffordshire 17,260 16,393 15,913 
			 Suffolk 10,243 9,643 9,445 
			 Surrey 10,953 10,396 10,081 
			 Sussex 18,388 17,373 16,991 
			 Teesside 13,715 13,606 13,052 
			 Thames Valley 26,614 25,405 24,373 
			 Warwickshire 7,538 6,937 6,743 
			 West Mercia 15,692 15,445 13,642 
			 Wiltshire 8,214 7,874 7,720 
			 Greater Manchester 52,798 48,309 47,532 
			 Mersey side 32,756 29,283 28,820 
			 Northumbria 29,801 27,646 26,964 
			 South Yorkshire 25,511 24,282 24,058 
			 West Midlands 59,331 55,055 53,377 
			 West Yorkshire 43,032 40,036 38,193 
			 London 153,617 143,404 137,416 
			 Dyfed Powys 8,960 8,295 8,058 
			 Gwent 11,404 11,252 10,930 
			 North Wales 12,530 11,786 11,696 
			 South Wales 25,566 25,226 24,402 
			 
			 Total 912,546 860,172 828,817

Prisoners: Ex-servicemen

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will take steps to collect and publish information on the number and proportion of adult prisoners in each prison in England and Wales who had served in the armed services at any time prior to conviction.

David Hanson: In response to the hon. Member's question on the collection of data on the numbers of prisoners in England and Wales who had previously served in the armed services, I refer him to my answer on 24 March 2009,  Official Report, column 320W.

Prisons: Meat Products

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of  (a) ham,  (b) pork,  (c) beef and  (d) chicken served in public sector prisons was produced in the UK in the last period for which figures are available.

Jack Straw: Percentages of meat used by HM Prison Service that were produced in the UK in 2007-08 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 Poultry meat 29 
			 Beef and veal 13 
			 Pork 23 
		
	
	Separate figures are not available for UK origin Ham used as it is included within the return for Pork.
	This most recent information is contained in a Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs report for 2007-08 detailing the proportion of food grown or reared in the UK used by Whitehall departments, including that supplied to public sector prisons in England and Wales under contracts negotiated by HM Prison Service, now part of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS).
	A copy of this report was placed in the House of Commons Library. An electronic copy can be obtained using the following link:
	http://wvvw.defra.gov.uk/farm/policy/sustain/procurement/pdf/psfpi-datareport081125.pdf
	The data submitted by the Ministry of Justice was for 2007-08, it is anticipated by suppliers that the use of domestic frozen meat have increased since these figures were submitted. The Ministry of Justice is attempting to increase its percentage of meat bought of UK origin where it can and is currently retendering its frozen contracts (awarded in 2003) utilising food quality standards developed with the OGC and DEFRA. In addition, the objectives identified in the PSFPI form part of the frozen, retender evaluation criteria.
	The weaker pound will increase the percentage of meat bought that is of UK origin as it becomes more cost effective.

Prisons: Standards

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what research he has commissioned on the effects of prisoner numbers per prison on prison performance against the Prison Service's key performance indicators of safety and respect, including suicide levels.

David Hanson: Ministers have not commissioned any external research specifically on the effects of prisoner numbers per prison on performance against KPIs of safety and respect.
	My Department continues to monitor prison performance on a monthly basis against a range of indicators, including five indicators of safety and decency. For the 2008-09 financial year to date, performance is on track against the indicators of serious assaults, overcrowding, purposeful activity and time unlocked; and the three-year rate of self-inflicted deaths is falling.

Tribunals: Northern Ireland

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which courts in Northern Ireland are planned to be used as hearing centres in the next 12-months.

Bridget Prentice: The NI Court Service is currently carrying out a public consultation on the establishment of hearing centres at Larne, Bangor, Limavady, Magherafelt and Strabane courthouses.

Young Offenders

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the written ministerial statement of 8 May 2007,  Official Report, columns 6-7WS, on young adult offenders, what progress has been made on each of the nine proposals listed.

David Hanson: The Government are committed to further work to plan for appropriate provision to address the specific needs of young adult offenders (YAOs).
	A review of current policy for the management of young adults in custody is under way, and other work already completed or currently being taken forward includes:
	implementation of an improved protocol between the National Offender Management Service and the Youth Justice Board to ensure effective transition arrangements for young people moving to the young adult estate are put in place;
	provision of £500,000 to promote the use and evaluation of mentoring as part of the Offender Management package; and
	development of a pilot specification for a new YAO regime that will be designed to meet the needs of a sentenced young adult male population at HMP Isis, a new separate public sector prison within the existing HMP Belmarsh perimeter wall that will provide 624 places for 18 to 24-year-olds.
	A review has also been conducted to consider implementation of recommendation 16 of the Mubarek report. The conclusions of this work will be considered as part of the wider review of the management of young adults in custody referred to above.
	The initiatives that have been put in place, together with the work outlined above, build on previous schemes and continue to offer a positive and considered way forward for the management of young adult offenders.

Young Offenders: Reoffenders

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what percentage of  (a) people and  (b) women aged from 18 to 21 years old who received a criminal conviction in the last 12 months had been convicted of one or more criminal offences when under the age of 18.

Maria Eagle: Data held by the Ministry of Justice show that, of the 80,000 offenders aged between 18 and 21 who were sentenced by courts in England and Wales in 2007 and whose sentence was recorded on the police national computer, 43 per cent. (34,000) had previously been convicted under the age of 18. The equivalent figure for female offenders is 32 per cent. (3,100 out of a total of 9,700 offenders).
	These figures have been drawn from the police's administrative IT system which, as with any large scale recording system, is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. The figures are provisional and subject to change as more information is recorded by the police.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Sports: Schools

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what funding his Department provided for sport in schools in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many school sports co-ordinators there were in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England in each year since their inception.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department for Children Schools and Families has advised that the number of schools sports co-ordinators in Jarrow, South Tyneside, the north-east and England, both in post and planned for each year for which figures are available is as follows:
	
		
			  Area  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			 Jarrow 38 38 38 38 38 
			 South Tyneside 69 67 67 67 67 
			 North East 2,032.5 2,005.5 1,187.5 1,185.5 n/k 
			 England 22,396 22,057 21,872 21,840 21,840 
			  Note: These figures include school sport coordinators, primary link teachers, partnership development managers and assistant partnership development managers. 
		
	
	The Department for Children Schools and Families has also advised that the amounts provided for schools sports coaches in Jarrow, South Tyneside, the north-east and England, both in post and planned, for each year for which figures are available, is as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Area  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			 Jarrow — — 0.354 0.290 0.154 0.154 0.154 
			 South Tyneside 0.111 0.417 0.366 0.363 0.370 0.377 0.377 
			 North East 4.187 6.136 6.919 7.021 6.831 6.985 6.913 
			 England 67.983 89.268 110.631 113.692 113.685 116.256 115.868 
			  Note: Figures include school sport coordinators, primary link teachers, partnership development managers and assistant partnership development managers. 
		
	
	Further Government funding for sport in schools is available through the delivery of the School Club Links programme across England which is part of the PE and Sports Strategy for young people or PESSYP (formerly PESSCL). The amounts awarded in each year since the scheme began are as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2004-05 4,014,000 
			 2005-06 5,016,000 
			 2006-07 4,550,000 
			 2007-08 4,550,000 
			 2008-09 4,536,000 
		
	
	Exchequer funding for schools sport is also available through Sport England, who have advised that during the period in question they made one payment of £303,882 of Exchequer funding to a school in the north-east.

Theatre

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the average attendance figures for each theatre in England that was in receipt of a grant from the Arts Council was in the latest year for which figures are available.

Barbara Follett: Arts Council England has advised that disclosing information on average attendance figures for each theatre in receipt of a grant from the Arts Council would breach commercial confidentiality. The Arts Council has, however, provided the following information on average attendance figures per region for 2006-07.
	
		
			  Arts Council England regularly funded theatres 2006-07 
			  Region  Total audiences( 1)  Number of performances  Number of theatres  Average audience per performance  Average audience per theatre 
			 East 491,263 2,130 12 231 40,939 
			 East Midlands 720,235 2,551 11 282 65,476 
			 London 4,125,816 15,611 79 264 52,226 
			 North East 537,973 2,337 14 230 38,427 
			 North West 1,079,837 4,868 33 222 32,722 
			 South East 1,218,497 5,081 14 240 87,036 
			 South West 576,759 2,789 11 207 52,433 
			 West Midlands 1,613,873 4,235 18 381 89,660 
			 Yorkshire 1,341,563 5,293 32 253 41,924 
			 (1) Includes estimates for performances that were free or not ticketed. 
		
	
	These figures are based on the actual and estimated audiences of the 227 theatres that responded to the Arts Council survey in 2006-07.
	The two national companies classified as theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company (West Midlands) and the Royal National Theatre (London), are included within their regions.

Tourism: Per Capita Costs

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the Government spending per capita on tourism in England was in each of the last 10 years.

Barbara Follett: In total, public sector funding for the financial year 2006-07, the latest date for which figures are available was approximately £350 million which includes funding from Visit Britain, Regional Development Agencies ("RDAs") and local authorities. Additional support for the tourism industry is also provided by Government in a variety of forms, such as skills and training for which approximately £500 million is made available annually. The amounts for which the DCMS is primarily responsible are channelled through Visit Britain, the RDAs and the Greater London Authority (GLA).
	VisitBritain's funding for tourism is for Britain as a whole. VisitBritain have advised that they are unable to break that down into specific national components and as a result cannot disaggregate and supply per capita spend for England.
	Estimates of central Government spending by VisitBritain, the RDAs and the GLA over the previous 10 years in support of tourism in England are as follows:
	
		
			  Estimated spending of central Government support for tourism by VisitBritain, RDAs and the GLA 1997-98 to 2007-08 
			   British Tourist Authority plus English Tourist Board/English Tourism Council( 1)  VisitBritain  Additional emergency funding following outbreak of FMD and events of 9/11  Regional Development Agencies spend( 2)  Additional DCMS funding for London through GLA/LDA( 3)  Total 
			 1997-98 44.7 — — — — 44.7 
			 1998-99 45.7 — — — — 45.7 
			 1999-2000 47.8 — — 0.4 — 48.2 
			 2000-01 48.0 — — 1.1 — 49.1 
			 2001-02 (4)45.1 — (5)19.0 9.0 1.5 74.6 
			 2002-03 — 47.1 — 7.0 1.9 56.0 
			 2003-04 — 47.9 — 24.7 1.9 74.5 
			 2004-05 — 48.4 — n/k 1.9 n/k 
			 2005-06 — 50.0 — 52.0 1.9 103.9 
			 2006-07 — 50.0 — 43.5 1.9 95.4 
			 2007-08 — (6)49.75 — 44.0 1.9 95.7 
			 (1) The BTA was responsible for overseas marketing. The ETB (re-named the ETC in 1999) for domestic support. The two were effectively amalgamated in 2002-03. The ETB/ETC funded Regional Tourist Boards from its central grant up to 2002-03, and these figures are included in the BTA/ETB/ETC totals, as shown in table A: (2) The RDAs were made responsible for regional tourism funding in 2002-03. The figures in this up to 2001-02 include grants to Regional Tourist Boards—in addition to those made by the ETC/ETB—as shown in table B. (3) For London's "gateway" role. Not included in the RDA figures. (4) The fall in 2001-02 is explained by the transfer of £1.6 million to the Greater London Authority to fund the capital's gateway role (subsequently increased to £1.9 million, as in note 3). (5) Emergency funding from HMT, made available for the "Million Visitor Campaign" following FMD and 9/11. (6) Includes an additional £0.75 million for flooding recovery work from August 2007. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table A 
			   £ million 
			 1997-98 4.7 
			 1998-99 3.9 
			 1999-2000 3.8 
			 2000-01 4.8 
			 2001-02 6.3 
			 2002-03 5.7 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B 
			   £ million 
			 1999-2000 0.4 
			 2000-01 1.1 
			 2001-02 9.0

Video Games: Advertising

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects a revised code on advertising video games to be published.

Barbara Follett: holding answer 30 March 2009
	The Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA) set up a working group to look at industry's codes for advertising in autumn 2008. Following that, a compliance survey carried out by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) showed that video games advertisements had a 99 per cent. compliance rate with the regulations. The existing guidelines were therefore found to be sufficient.
	On 26 March 2009 the ASA published a consultation on a review of its own codes for broadcast and non-broadcast advertising. This proposes a restriction to prevent adverts for age-restricted computer and console games appearing around TV programmes likely to appeal to children. Once this consultation is complete and new codes are in place, ELSPA will reassess industry guidelines to ensure they are still fit for purpose.

HEALTH

Cannabis: Misuse

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) teenagers and  (b) people have been treated for addiction to cannabis in each of the last 15 years.

Dawn Primarolo: The National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS), managed by the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) since 2004-05, records data on people in drug treatment in England. Data on young people are only separately available from 2005-06 when the NDTMS started collecting data from all young people's services in England.
	
		
			  Persons presenting for treatment with cannabis as primary substance misused 
			   Young people (under 18 at triage)  All persons (inc. under 18s at triage) 
			 2004-05 n/a 13,408 
			 2005-06 9,043 21,101 
			 2006-07 10,824 24,669 
			 2007-08 12,021 26,287

Contraceptives

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which primary care trusts fund non-latex condoms on prescription.

Dawn Primarolo: This information is not collected centrally. Non-latex condoms are a non-prescribable item and they do not appear in the Drug Tariff.

Deaf

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support is available from his Department to deaf parents and their families.

Phil Hope: Deaf parents and their families are recognised as requiring support, as are all disabled parents and families. Local health bodies are responsible for commissioning health and social services to meet the needs of their local population and adult social services have an ongoing duty to support disabled parents, including deaf parents in carrying out their parenting role, ensuring that all disabled people have the same rights of access to social care and support as non-disabled parents.
	The Government have a significant programme of work aimed at supporting parents in general, and a range of initiatives aimed at supporting groups of parents experiencing particular difficulties, such as deaf parents. The Parenting Implementation Project for example is developing good practice in relation to commissioning and implementing parenting and family support services.

Dental Services

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) orthodontic units of activity were provided and  (b) courses of orthodontic treatment were completed in each primary care trust area in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08.

Ann Keen: The information requested could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Departmental Energy

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent progress his Department has made towards the target of increasing its energy efficiency per square metre of its Estate by 15 per cent. by 2010, relative to 1999-2000 levels; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The Department supports and aims to meet the Government's targets to reduce carbon emissions and improve the energy efficiency of the Government estate. While we have increased the efficiency (measured as consumption per m(2)) of our gas usage, our energy consumption has increased over the period, due largely to our policy of closing buildings and concentrating more staff in our remaining estate.
	The changes in energy efficiency of our buildings (measured in kWh per m(2)) since 1999-2000, which is the earliest year for which figures are available, are:
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   2007-08  2006-07 
			 Gas/fuel oil -15 -16 
			 Electricity +24 +29 
			 Total +9 +12 
		
	
	We have been working with the Carbon Trust over the past two years to identify energy saving measures, and this has been reflected in an improvement in our performance on energy efficiency in 2007-08, compared with 2006-07. We have a number of further initiatives planned, which should improve these figures further in the coming year.

Departmental Internet

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions his Department's website has been temporarily unavailable due to a technical problem in each year since 2001.

Ben Bradshaw: Prior to 21 June 2002 the Department's website was hosted by the Office of Government Commerce on shared servers. This service was shut down in 2002 and the required information is not available.
	Between June 2002 and February 2004 the Department's website was hosted by EDS. Recording of periods of unavailability is not available from this hosting contract and it would incur disproportionate cost to provide this.
	Between February 2004 to March 2007 the Department's website was hosted as part of a shared service run by the Office of the e-Envoy. During this period there were no occasions when the website was temporarily unavailable due to a technical problem.
	In March 2007, the Department's website transferred to a new managed service, shared with Directgov. Since then, the Department's website has been temporarily unavailable due to a technical problems as follows: five occasions between March 2007 and December 2007, 11 occasions between January 2008 and December 2008 and four occasions from January 2009 to date.

Drugs: Advisory Services

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  which  (a) drug charities,  (b) drug bodies and  (c) scientific authorities provide drug information to the drugs advice organisation, FRANK;
	(2)  how much funding was provided for the drugs advice organisation FRANK in the last 12 months;
	(3)  what training is provided for the advisers at the drugs advice organisation FRANK; and what qualifications such advisers are required to have.

Dawn Primarolo: The voluntary organisations which have provided advice to FRANK are: Adfam, the Scottish Drugs Forum and DrugScope. Scientific and other information about drugs and drug misuse treatment services has been provided by the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs and the Forensic Science Service.
	FRANK received approximately £2 million from the Department of Health in 2008-09. FRANK also received in the same year approximately £2.7 million from the Home Office and £1.8 million from the Department for Children, Schools and Families.
	The Scottish Drugs Forum provides a comprehensive training programme for FRANK advisors to include a number of themes such as drugs and their effects, attitudes and awareness of drugs, how problematic drug use affects children and families and child protection. Only individuals who have worked in relevant settings, for example the drugs field, counselling, nursing or social work, and who have excellent communication skills are recruited to become FRANK advisors.

Drugs: Misuse

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many drug-related hospital admissions were attributable to each drug in class  (a) A,  (b) B and  (c) C in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: This information is not collected centrally.

DrugScope: Finance

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding the charity DrugScope has received from the Government in each of the last 10 years.

Phil Hope: The following table shows the awards by the Department to DrugScope through the Section 64 General Scheme of Grants which funds voluntary organisations in England whose activities support the Department's policy priorities. Funding for DrugScope began in 2001-02 following the organisation's founding in 2000.
	The figures do not include any payments made to DrugScope from other budgets held by the Department or other Government Departments in respect of services commissioned from DrugScope.
	
		
			   Type of grant  Amount (£) 
			 2001-02 Core 460,000 
			 2002-03 Core 350,000 
			 2002-03 Project 80,000 
			 2003-04 Core 400,000 
			 2004-05 Core 400,000 
			 2005-06 Core 400,000 
			 2006-07 Core 300,000 
			 2007-08 Core 230,000 
			 2008-09 Core 230,000

Hearing Aids

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  which health authorities were re-testing digital hearing aids before the issue of guidance on the matter in 2007;
	(2)  whether he has issued target durations for re-testing of digital hearing aids.

Phil Hope: Information around which health authorities undertook pro-active re-testing of digital hearing aids before the issue of guidance on this matter in 2007 is not collected. The Department has no plans to issue target durations for the pro-active re-testing of digital hearing aids.
	People are referred by their general practitioner to their local audiology clinic when they experience problems with their hearing and it is for local health professionals to determine and agree with an individual as to the type of hearing assistance that may be required. Re-assessment generally takes place after three years unless an individual experiences further hearing loss, in which case they may be re-assessed earlier.

Hospitals: Infectious Diseases

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 24 March 2009,  Official Report, column 225W, on hospital-acquired infections, if he will place in the Library the dataset used to calculate the 65 per cent. reduction in methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus against the 2003-04 baseline.

Ann Keen: The data used to calculate the 65 per cent. reduction in methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on the 2003-04 baseline were the October to December 2008 national quarterly data published by the Health Protection Agency (HPA).
	These data show there were 676 reports in October to December 2008 and 7,700 reports in the baseline year 2003-04. This gives a quarterly average of 1,925 for the baseline year and 676 is a 65 per cent. reduction from this.
	These data are publicly available from the HPA quarterly counts of MRSA for October to December 2008 and financial year reports of MRSA from 2001-02 to 2005-06, which can be found at:
	www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1233906819629?p=1191942169773

Learning Disability

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to respond to the Health Service Ombudsman's Six Lives report.

Phil Hope: In 2007, following Mencap's report on the six deaths of people with learning disabilities, the former Secretary of State for Health commissioned Sir Jonathan Michael to carry out an Independent Inquiry into access to healthcare for people with learning disabilities. The report of that Inquiry—"Healthcare for All"—made 10 recommendations for improving access to healthcare for people with learning disabilities. A copy has already been placed in the Library. "Valuing People Now: a new three-year strategy for people with learning disabilities", which was published in January 2009, set out the Government's response to the Independent Inquiry's report and our acceptance of all 10 recommendations. A copy of the strategy has been placed in the Library.
	We are saddened at the Ombudsman's report and the cases of all the people who died, particularly when up to two of the deaths could have been prevented. We welcome this report and accept its recommendations.
	Access to high quality healthcare is a right, and is essential in enabling people to lead healthy, active and fulfilling lives. The Government are committed to supporting and protecting the human rights of people with learning disabilities. All people with a learning disability are people first, with the right to lead their lives like any others, with the same opportunities and responsibilities and to be treated with dignity and respect.
	The action set out in "Valuing People Now", including a commitment to establishing a confidential inquiry to investigate premature deaths of people with learning disabilities, and the support we are providing at a local and regional level to improve training and awareness amongst health care staff will help people with learning disabilities to get access to the care they need. We have already introduced annual health checks for people with learning disabilities and on 12 March, we launched guidance for primary care staff to support individualised health plans for people with learning disabilities.

Malnutrition: Death

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths from malnutrition have occurred in  (a) private care homes,  (b) public care homes and  (c) hospitals in each Government Office region since 1997.

Kevin Brennan: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated March 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many deaths from malnutrition have occurred in (a) private care homes, (b) public care homes and (c) hospitals in each Government Office Region since 1997. (267475)
	The attached table provides the numbers of deaths in (a) private care homes, (b) public care homes and (c) hospitals in each government office region in England, for the years 1997 to 2007 (the latest year available).
	
		
			  Table 1. Deaths from malnutrition and effects of hunger,( 1)  private and public care homes and hospitals,( 2)  Government office regions in England,( 3)  1997-2007( 4) 
			  Deaths (persons) 
			  Government office region  Place of death  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 North East Private care home 6 0 3 4 1 2 2 2 3 0 1 
			  Public care home 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Hospitals 16 13 15 17 19 21 21 9 12 26 16 
			  
			 North West Private care home 4 2 3 8 1 3 5 4 2 1 3 
			  Public care home 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Hospitals 27 32 24 19 23 29 23 31 28 24 35 
			  
			 Yorkshire and The Humber Private care home 5 6 4 1 2 1 2 1 0 2 4 
			  Public care home 1 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 
			  Hospitals 24 15 20 22 17 18 26 16 14 20 21 
			  
			 East Midlands Private care home 3 10 10 8 2 0 3 3 2 1 1 
			  Public care home 0 3 0 4 0 5 3 1 4 2 1 
			  Hospitals 10 15 15 17 12 14 15 15 21 23 22 
			  
			 West Midlands Private care home 8 1 4 2 4 0 0 0 0 3 0 
			  Public care home 1 1 2 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 
			  Hospitals 42 26 38 38 19 46 35 39 25 31 41 
			  
			 East of England Private care home 0 6 3 5 2 2 0 2 4 2 5 
			  Public care home 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Hospitals 19 18 27 18 25 27 16 19 30 22 18 
			  
			 London Private care home 2 1 5 1 2 0 2 1 2 2 1 
			  Public care home 0 3 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Hospitals 22 27 27 23 18 21 19 14 11 17 24 
			  
			 South East Private care home 6 6 1 5 2 0 1 6 2 6 2 
			  Public care home 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 
			  Hospitals 30 23 35 29 22 34 27 30 33 44 41 
			  
			 South West Private care home 7 9 3 11 6 3 4 1 3 1 2 
			  Public care home 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 
			  Hospitals 19 23 23 31 14 20 16 26 21 32 24 
			 (1) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes 260-269 (malnutrition) and E904.1 (effects of hunger) for the years 1997 to 2000, and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes E40-E46 (malnutrition) and T73.0 (effects of hunger) for 2001 onwards. Deaths were included where one of these causes was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate. The introduction of ICD-10 in 2001 means that the numbers of deaths from each cause before 2001 are not completely comparable with later years. (2 )'Private care home' includes non-NHS private nursing homes and private residential homes. 'Public care home' includes NHS private nursing homes and local authority residential homes. 'Hospital' includes NHS and non-NHS hospitals or multifunction sites, and military hospitals. (3) Figures exclude deaths of non-residents. (4) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.

Medical Treatments Abroad

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of providing medical services to British citizens living abroad in each of the last 10 years.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates of the costs of European Economic Area (EEA) healthcare claims are made annually for the purposes of provisions made in the Department's accounts in accordance with Treasury resource accounting rules. This information can be found in the following table. Comparable information prior to 2002 is not available.
	The United Kingdom does not fund the cost of medical services provided to British citizens living in non-EEA countries.
	
		
			  EEA member state claims against the UK 
			   £000 
			 2002-03 233,200 
			 2003-04 273,909 
			 2004-05 331,900 
			 2005-06 404,100 
			 2006-07 426,600 
			 2007-08 550,300 
			  Notes: 1. Totals are based on estimates of the costs of EEA healthcare claims made annually for the purposes of provisions made in the Department's accounts in accordance with Treasury resource accounting rules. 2. Figures represent lump sum claims under Articles 94 and 95 of EU Regulation (EC) 574/72. This covers claims relating to the family members of workers resident in a different member state from the worker and claims for pensioners and their dependents. 3. Totals are rounded to nearest £100,000. 4. Sub totals may not add up to totals due to rounding.  Source: Resource Accounting and Budgeting (RAB) exercise

Members: Correspondence

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to reply to the hon. Member for Eddisbury's letter of 23 April 2008, on Southern Cross.

Phil Hope: A reply was issued to the hon. Member on 9 June 2008.

Mental Health Services

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent steps he has taken to ensure the needs of mental health patients are met by specialist mental health services.

Phil Hope: Since 2001-02, real terms investment in adult mental health services has increased by 44 per cent. (or £1.7 billion), putting in place the services and staff needed to transform mental health services. Compared with 1997, we now have 64 per cent. more consultant psychiatrists, 71 per cent. more clinical psychologists and 21 per cent. more mental health nurses, providing better care for people with mental health problems (all full-time equivalent). More than 740 mental health teams provide specialist community mental health services, such as home treatment, early intervention, or intensive support for people who might otherwise be admitted to hospital.
	General practitioners and consultant psychiatrists decide on the most appropriate treatment for their patients, and they are expected to take National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance fully into account. Doctors can prescribe any medicine or treatment which they consider to be necessary, including NICE-approved psychological therapies for severe mental illness, provided that the local primary care trust (PCT) or national health service trust agrees to supply it on the NHS. However, it is for PCTs to decide spending levels for specific health care treatments and services, including mental health, and to commission these services.
	The Department revised Care Programme Approach (CPA) guidelines in 2008. Under CPA, each mental health service user should have an opportunity to be actively involved in agreeing their treatment plans with their care co-ordinator, wherever possible. This is not dependent on diagnosis, but may be affected by the severity of the condition at any particular time.

Mental Health Services

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent steps he has taken to ensure mental health conditions do not affect people's ability to access NHS services.

Phil Hope: The Department has implemented several measures to help ensure that people with mental health problems and physical illness can access national health service healthcare.
	The NHS "Operating Framework" for 2009-10 includes a specific reference to the importance of physical health checks in primary care settings for people with a severe mental illness.
	The draft standard NHS contracts for mental health services in 2010-11 onwards, which the Department published in 2008, give providers responsibility for arranging physical health checks for long term in-patients, call for annual improvement targets to be set locally, and suggest progress in improving physical health care as a subject for local reporting from provider to commissioner.
	Guidance notes accompanying the standard contracts stress the importance of individualised needs assessments which address service users' physical health, and recommends local arrangements with primary care services to ensure health checks and inclusion in screening and health promotion activity for mental health service users.
	The care programme approach (CPA) for people with complex mental health needs was revised last year. Under CPA, each mental health service user should have an opportunity to be actively involved in agreeing their treatment plans with their care coordinator, wherever possible. CPA describes a holistic approach covering quality of life, health checks, the physical effects of mental illness and psychiatric treatment and the effect of physical symptoms on mental well-being, smoking and obesity.

Mentally Incapacitated: Community Treatment

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many second opinions for treatment under supervised community treatment have been  (a) requested and  (b) carried out under the Mental Health Act 1983.

Phil Hope: The Mental Health Act Commission has received 1,673 requests for second opinions for people on supervised community treatment since 3 November 2008 of which 98 were subsequently withdrawn. As at 31 March, 430 were recorded as having had all action completed. Information on the number of second opinions given but not yet recorded as completed is not available.

Mentally Incapacitated: Community Treatment

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many community treatment orders have been  (a) issued and  (b) revoked under the Mental Health Act 1993; and how many patients have been (i) recalled to hospital while on a community treatment order and (ii) discharged from a community treatment order.

Phil Hope: The information requested is not yet available.

MMR Vaccine

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make an assessment of the merits of making provision for parents to have a choice over the means of vaccination of their children against measles, mumps and rubella under the NHS.

Dawn Primarolo: The United Kingdom has no policy of compulsory medication. The schedule for the UK routine childhood immunisation programme recommends two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Consent for MMR vaccination of young children is given by a person with parental responsibility. Parents have the choice to refuse the vaccinations offered by the national health service.
	MMR vaccine is the safest way to protect children against measles, mumps and rubella. The Department encourages parents to exercise their responsibility to participate in important public health programmes such as MMR vaccination.
	The Department does not recommend single measles, mumps or rubella vaccines. The use of single vaccines leaves children at risk of catching measles, mumps or rubella in the time periods between doses of the vaccines, and a full course requires six injections rather than the two required for MMR vaccine. The single measles, mumps and rubella vaccines currently available privately in the UK are not licensed for use in the UK.

NHS: Complaints

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints to the Healthcare Commission he expects to be outstanding on 1 April 2009; and whether such complaints will be referred to the Care Quality Commission.

Ann Keen: The Department of Health, the Healthcare Commission (HCC) and the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) have worked closely together to ensure a smooth transition to the reformed complaints arrangements, which come into force on 1 April 2009.
	In accordance with the casework transition plan agreed by the tripartite NHS Complaints Transition Board, there will be no complaints to the HCC outstanding on 1 April 2009. All cases being handled by the HCC have now been passed satisfactorily to the PHSO.
	The Care Quality Commission will not intervene in individual NHS complaint cases, so no cases will be referred to it from the HCC.

NHS: Legal Proceedings

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department issues to primary care trusts on their expenditure on legal proceedings.

Ann Keen: The Department has not issued guidance to primary care trusts on their expenditure on legal proceedings. Lord Justice Jackson is currently undertaking a review of the costs of civil litigation to ensure that they are appropriate and we will consider the results of the review when they are published later this year.

NHS: Pay

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration he has given to the merits of introducing a minimum wage of £7 per hour in the NHS in England and Wales in 2009-10.

Ann Keen: The 2009-10 pay uplift, the second year of the current three-year pay deal, for the majority of non-medical national health service staff, which has been reviewed by the independent NHS pay review body, means that the minimum wage in the NHS in England in 2009-10 will be £6.78 per hour. This is 18.3 per cent. higher than the statutory national minimum wage of £5.73 an hour. Pay for staff working in the NHS in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Assembly Government.

WORK AND PENSIONS

National Insurance Contributions

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 25 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1384W, on national insurance contributions, for what reason the estimates assume a 20 per cent. take-up rate; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: National Insurance contribution data were used to show which people had eligible blank years on their record since 1975.
	We found that around half a million individuals reaching state pension age between 2008 and 2015 could increase their entitlement to basic state pension by purchasing deficient years from earlier in their working lives.
	While basic state pension entitlement could increase, for some people overall income may not because of the interaction with income related benefits, such as pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit. Married women also need to consider how much state pension they are entitled to, based on their husband's record, and when they will get it.
	Taking these factors into account, along with evidence from a previous Class 3 related exercise, our estimates assume a take-up of 20 per cent.

Pension Credit

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are eligible for pension credit; and what estimate he has made of the number of additional people who would become eligible if the tariff income were set according to the Bank of England base rate.

Rosie Winterton: The latest estimates of the numbers entitled to means-tested benefits in Great Britain, covering income support, pension credit, housing benefit, council tax benefit and jobseeker's allowance (income based) are published in the report "Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 2006-07".
	The tariff income formula is not intended to represent any rate of return that could be obtained from investing capital. It provides a simple method of calculating the weekly contribution that people with capital in excess of £6,000 (£10,000 for those in care homes) are expected to make from their resources to help meet their normal living costs.
	As there is no link with actual market rates, tariff income rules are not adjusted when interest rates change.

Revenue and Customs

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which benefit delivery centres serve residents of each  (a) parliamentary constituency and  (b) Jobcentre Plus district.

Tony McNulty: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Mel Groves:
	The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has asked me to reply to your question asking which benefit delivery centres serve residents of each  (a) parliamentary constituency and  (b) Jobcentre Plus district. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	The geographical coverage of Jobcentre Plus Benefit Delivery Centres and districts is based on postcodes. A facility to match postcodes with Jobcentre Plus Benefit Delivery Centres and districts is available at:
	http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Aboutus/Ouroffices/Search/LocalOfficeSearch.aspx.
	The information requested is not collated centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Social Security Benefits: Interest Rates

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1798W, on social security benefits: interest rates, what factors he takes into account when determining the  (a) capital limits and  (b) tariff income rules; when his Department last (i) reviewed and (ii) consulted on the limits and the rules; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: In any income related benefit scheme there is a point at which people with capital will have to use their resources to maintain themselves before having recourse to public funds.
	The current position is that for income support, employment support allowance (income related) and income-based jobseeker's allowance, the first £6,000 is disregarded (£10,000 for people permanently living in residential care and nursing homes). The upper capital limit is £16,000. For each £250 of capital (or part of £250) held between the appropriate lower and upper limits benefit is reduced by £1 per week.
	For pension credit the first £6,000 is disregarded (£10,000 for people living in a care home). There is no upper capital limit. For each £500 (or part of £500) above the appropriate lower capital limit benefit is reduced by £1 per week.
	Those customers in receipt of income support, employment support allowance (income related) and jobseeker's allowance (income based) or the guarantee credit element of pension credit will be passported on to full housing benefit and council tax benefit, regardless of the amount of capital held. For other claims to housing benefit and council tax benefit, capital of between £6,000 and £16,000 will affect entitlement at a rate of £1 per week for every £250 or part of £250 held over £6,000. For people who have reached the qualifying age for pension credit, benefit will reduce by £1 per week for each £500 or part of £500 on capital between £6,000 and £16,000.
	The capital rules in income related benefits are kept under continual review but they can be increased only when priorities and resources allow.

Social Security Benefits: Interviews

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what provisions are in place for employment and support allowance claimants to be accompanied by a support worker, parent or friend to  (a) work capability assessment,  (b) work-focused, health-related assessment and  (c) work-focused interviews.

Tony McNulty: All employment and support allowance customers who are asked to attend a work capability assessment and/or a work-focused health related assessment are sent a letter with their appointment details. The letter confirms that customers are free to bring another person with them to their assessment if they wish.
	When arranging an appointment with the customer over the phone Atos Healthcare staff also advise customers who request that they would like to be accompanied at the assessment, that they can bring a companion with them and that if they have no one available to accompany them that Atos Healthcare can provide a chaperone.
	Before a work-focused interview takes place, employment and support allowance customers are contacted by letter and by telephone and are informed that they can be accompanied. During the telephone contact, Jobcentre Plus staff also aim to identify any additional support that may be needed because of the customer's health condition.

State Retirement Pensions: EU Nationals

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many EU citizens working in the UK paid sufficient national insurance contributions to earn a potential entitlement to the state pension in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not available as National Insurance contributions paid by migrants are not reported separately.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Community Relations: Religion

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding her Department has provided for the Government's interfaith strategy.

Sadiq Khan: We are committed to a three year programme of investment and support worth over £7.5 million, as announced in our interfaith framework "Face to Face and Side by Side". This will be invested with a focus on delivering increased opportunities for dialogue and social action within local communities.
	Part of this funding will be specifically allocated to the "Faiths in Action" fund, which aims to support local activities and initiatives that have a direct link to one or more of the four building blocks described in "Face to Face and Side by Side": confidence and skills to bridge and link; shared spaces for interaction; structures and processes; and opportunities for learning. All types of organisations at national, regional or local level in England may apply for this funding.
	The other funding is allocated to a programme of investment over three years in Regional Faith Forums to support and build their capacity, in particular their interaction with local inter faith activity.

Departmental Empty Property

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the change in the annual cost to her Department of maintaining the empty public buildings owned by her Department as a result of the April 2008 changes to empty property rate relief.

Sadiq Khan: The additional cost in business rates resulting from the changes to empty business rate relief is estimated to be £11,400 in this financial year.

Departmental Energy

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent progress her Department has made towards the target of increasing its energy efficiency per square metre of its Estate by 15 per cent. by 2010, relative to 1999-2000 levels; and if she will make a statement.

Sadiq Khan: The Department has already met the 2010-11 target of increasing energy efficiency per square metre of its estate by 15 per cent. relative to 1999-2000 levels. The following figures show the Department's performance in recent years:
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   Performance against baseline 
			   2006-07  2007-08 
			 Core Department -4 -28 
			 Executive agencies -18 -16

Departmental Surveys

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 549-50W, on departmental surveys, if she will place in the Library a copy of her Department's most recent staff survey  (a) results and  (b) analysis.

Sadiq Khan: Results of all my Department's recent staff surveys, including the 2008 Pulse Survey, can be found on the Department's internet site at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/about/howwework/corporatereports/reportsaccounts/staffsurvey
	I have today placed in the Library a copy of the Power Point presentation prepared by Ipsos MORI on the results of the 2008 Pulse Survey.

Disabled Facilities Grants: Waltham Forest

Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department is taking to end the suspension of the disabled facilities grants in Waltham Forest.

Iain Wright: Disabled facilities grant is a mandatory entitlement administered by local housing authorities under the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996. The implications of the disabled facilities grant legal framework is that following an assessment of need the local authority is required to provide a disabled facilities grant subject to a means test and grant maximum. Suspending disabled facilities grants is not an acceptable means of budget management.
	The Government have more than doubled the government funds available for the programme from £57 million in 1997 to £146 million in 2008 with an increase of £10 million in each of the next two years making the budget £166 million by 2010. For 2008-09 Waltham Forest received £630,000 in disabled facilities grant and an additional £47,000 was allocated to Waltham Forest last month. Local authorities are expected to prioritise these services and contribute towards the costs of disabled facilities grants as they have always done so.

Fires

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many deaths there were resulting from  (a) dwellings fires and  (b) fires in other buildings in each (i) fire authority area and (ii) region in each of the last three years.

Sadiq Khan: The number of deaths resulting from fires in dwellings and other buildings is shown in the table:
	
		
			  Fatal casualties in fires by location, England, 2005-07( 1) 
			2005  2006  2007( 1) 
			Dwellings  Other buildings  Dwellings  Other buildings  Dwellings  Other buildings 
			 England  289 24 287 48 246 27 
			 
			 North West Cheshire 8 0 4 1 8 1 
			  Cumbria 2 0 3 0 5 0 
			  Lancashire 8 1 19 3 7 3 
			  Greater Manchester 30 2 23 5 19 0 
			  Merseyside 15 2 4 1 6 0 
			 
			 North East Cleveland 4 0 2 1 1 1 
			  Durham 4 1 5 0 0 0 
			  Northumberland 1 2 1 0 3 0 
			  Tyne and Wear 6 0 7 1 8 0 
			 
			 Yorks and Humberside Humberside 4 1 1 1 3 3 
			  North Yorkshire 2 0 4 0 0 0 
			  South Yorkshire 13 0 9 1 7 1 
			  West Yorkshire 14 1 18 1 15 1 
			 
			 West Midlands Hereford and Worcester 2 0 3 1 6 0 
			  Shropshire 2 1 5 0 1 0 
			  Staffordshire 3 1 9 0 8 3 
			  Warwickshire 3 0 0 0 0 4 
			  West Midlands 19 1 24 3 13 0 
			 
			 East Midlands Derbyshire 2 0 1 0 4 0 
			  Leicestershire 3 0 6 0 4 3 
			  Lincolnshire 2 0 5 2 4 1 
			  Northamptonshire 3 1 5 2 3 0 
			  Nottinghamshire 6 1 7 0 3 0 
			 
			 East Bedfordshire 4 1 4 0 1 0 
			  Cambridgeshire 2 0 5 0 4 0 
			  Essex 16 0 8 1 5 1 
			  Hertfordshire 4 0 4 1 1 0 
			  Norfolk 5 1 6 0 3 0 
			  Suffolk 3 0 4 0 5 0 
			 
			 South West Avon 9 0 3 0 5 0 
			  Cornwall 4 1 1 1 2 0 
			  Devon 2 0 6 1 6 0 
			  Dorset 1 0 1 1 1 2 
			  Gloucestershire 1 0 2 0 5 0 
			  Somerset 2 0 3 0 4 0 
			  Wiltshire 0 0 2 0 2 0 
			  Isles of Scilly 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 
			 South East Berkshire 1 0 2 0 3 0 
			  Buckinghamshire 2 0 1 1 1 0 
			  East Sussex 1 0 5 3 5 0 
			  Hampshire 6 0 11 1 3 0 
			  Isle of Wight 1 0 1 0 1 0 
			  Kent 11 0 4 0 12 0 
			  Oxfordshire 2 0 4 0 3 0 
			  Surrey 4 1 4 2 3 0 
			  West Sussex 1 0 4 0 2 0 
			 
			 London Greater London 51 5 37 13 41 3 
			 (1 )Provisional—data for 2007 are provisional and subject to change

Fires: Grasslands

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many grassland and heathland fires there were in each  (a) fire authority and  (b) region in each of the last three years.

Sadiq Khan: holding answer 24 March 2009
	Information on the number of grassland and heathland fires attended by Fire and Rescue Services from 2005-07 is available as follows:
	
		
			  All grassland fires( 1,2) , England, 2005-07 
			  FRS area   2005  2006  2007( 3) 
			 England  50,893 66,162 37,043 
			  
			 North West Cheshire 991 1,657 690 
			  Cumbria 457 502 360 
			  Lancashire 1,345 1,895 1,322 
			  Greater Manchester 1,863 3,104 1,365 
			  Merseyside 2,763 3,683 1.963 
			  
			 North East Cleveland 1,171 1,706 1,066 
			  Durham 934 1,537 866 
			  Northumberland 332 481 372 
			  Tyne and Wear 1,565 2,914 1,569 
			  
			 Yorks and Humberside Humberside 929 1,136 712 
			  North Yorkshire 360 476 316 
			  South Yorkshire 2,111 2,552 1,675 
			  West Yorkshire 2,282 2,945 1,521 
			  
			 West Midlands Hereford and Worcester 521 803 422 
			  Shropshire 483 837 359 
			  Staffordshire 1,412 2,012 1,020 
			  Warwickshire 371 444 336 
			  West Midlands 4,244 6,751 2,851 
			  
			 East Midlands Derbyshire 1,038 1,004 878 
			  Leicestershire 701 769 502 
			  Lincolnshire 458 617 482 
			  Northamptonshire 511 686 308 
			  Nottinghamshire 2,359 2,913 1,882 
			  
			 East Bedfordshire 461 453 267 
			  Cambridgeshire 530 659 331 
			  Essex 2,218 2,518 1,432 
			  Hertfordshire 700 838 468 
			  Norfolk 444 1,016 452 
			  Suffolk 484 754 434 
			  
			 South West Avon 1,474 1,485 1,042 
			  Cornwall 424 621 398 
			  Devon 554 857 532 
			  Dorset 879 737 491 
			  Gloucestershire 322 360 160 
			  Somerset 169 292 165 
			  Wiltshire 198 253 179 
			  Isles of Scilly 3 8 5 
			  
			 South East Berkshire 698 824 386 
			  Buckinghamshire 262 341 182 
			  East Sussex 224 391 172 
			  Hampshire 1,654 2,268 1,384 
			  Isle of Wight 59 83 47 
			  Kent 1,472 1,470 698 
			  Oxfordshire 299 330 225 
			  Surrey 901 942 542 
			  West Sussex 400 447 334 
			  
			 London Greater London 6,863 6,794 3,880 
			 (1) Figures are partially based on sampled weighted data in 2006 and 2007. (2) Includes primary and secondary fires. (3) Data for 2007 are provisional and subject to change.

Housing

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when her Department expects to publish figures on the net supply of housing for 2008-09.

Iain Wright: The net supply of housing release is an official statistic, and its publication is announced in advance on the UK statistics website.
	At this stage we expect "Net Supply of Housing: 2008-09, England" to be published in February 2010.

Housing: Low Incomes

Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department is taking to increase the number of affordable homes in Redbridge.

Iain Wright: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Reading, East (Mr. Wilson) on 18 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1177W, on steps we are taking nationally to support the delivery of affordable housing.
	Planning for affordable housing provision in Redbridge is primarily a matter for the borough and Mayor of London, who assess the housing requirements and potential of their areas. These studies provide evidence to inform both housing supply and affordable housing targets, for inclusion in their regional and local development plans.
	The Mayor's London Plan published in 2008 sets an annual monitoring target to provide a minimum of 905 homes per year in Redbridge, and a strategic target that 50 per cent. of all additional housing in London should be affordable. Redbridge, through its core strategy, aspires to a target of 50 per cent. affordable housing on all sites over 10 dwellings or larger than 0.5 hectares.
	As required by Government, the Mayor is currently up-dating the London-wide evidence base on housing requirements and potential, to inform both new housing supply targets, and longer-term affordable housing targets for London boroughs, for inclusion in a revised London Plan by 2012 at the latest.

Local Government: Devon

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the cost was of the review of local government boundaries in Devon by the Boundary Committee on the latest date for which figures are available.

Peter Viggers: I have been asked to reply.
	The Electoral Commission informs me that the structural review in Devon has to date cost £376,549. This can be broken down into the following areas of expenditure:
	
		
			  Category of expenditure  £ 
			 Salaries (including local government consultant) 148,853 
			 Consultation 36,262 
			   
			  Other costs:  
			 Financial consultants 89,872 
			 Legal advice 88,047 
			 Printing 9,379 
			 Mapping 2,685 
			 Couriers 321 
			 Staff training 1,130 
			 Total 376,549

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she plans to reply to the letter to her of 26 January 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regards to Ms K. Dowling.

Hazel Blears: I have now replied to my right hon. Friend's letter.

Renewable Energy: Planning

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the evidential basis is for the statement in paragraph 76 of the technical annex to her Department's Planning for renewable energy: companion guide to PPS22 that shadow flicker effects have been proven to occur only within 10 rotor diameters of a turbine.

Iain Wright: The statement derives from research carried out by A. D. Clark and originally reported in "A Case of Shadow Flicker/Flashing: Assessment and Solution", by Clarke, A. D. (1991), for the Open University.

Roads: Planning Permission

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what duties local planning authorities have to require developers to construct private roads to specific standards.

Iain Wright: Local planning authorities have no duties to require developers to construct private roads to specific standards. It may, however, be possible for the authority to require such roads to be constructed to a specific (e.g. adoptable) standard by means of conditions attached to the planning permission.

Social Rented Housing

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what percentage of homes built for social rent had  (a) one,  (b) two,  (c) three and  (d) four or more bedrooms in each year since 1997.

Iain Wright: A table will be placed in the Library of the House which shows the percentage of social rented homes through the Homes and Communities Agency's Affordable Housing Programme by the number of bedrooms. These figures are only available from the Homes and Communities Agency Investment Management System (IMS), so will not cover total social rent new build figures.
	Not all social rented housing is provided through new build completions, supply can also come from the acquisition and refurbishment of private sector homes. In 2007-08, a total of 29,370 additional social rented homes were provided.

Temporary Accommodation: Floods

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people affected by summer floods in 2007 remain in temporary accommodation.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Vale of York (Miss McIntosh) on 15 December 2008,  Official Report, columns 363-64W.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings

David Simpson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many staff in the Government Equalities Office  (a) were disciplined and  (b) had their employment terminated as a result of a poor sickness record in each of the last 12 months.

Maria Eagle: No staff have been disciplined or had their employment terminated as a result of a poor sickness record.

Rape: Victim Support Schemes

Theresa May: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality 
	(1)  how much funding the Government have provided to rape crisis centres  (a) in 2008-09 and  (b) in each year since 1997;
	(2)  which rape crisis centres receive Government funding; how much funding each  (a) has received in 2008-09 and  (b) will receive in 2009-10;
	(3)  which rape crisis centres that previously received funding from the Government have not received any such funding in 2008-09.

Maria Eagle: Government does not hold a record of rape crisis centres (members of Rape Crisis England and Wales, or its predecessor bodies) in existence over this period of time. As with other membership organisations, membership of Rape Crisis England and Wales, and its predecessors, has changed over time. There are also organisations which use the phrase 'rape crisis' in their organisational name, but which are not members of Rape Crisis England and Wales. This means it is difficult to be exact in identifying rape crisis centres separately from those sexual violence voluntary sector organisations which have received central Government funding. These factors make it difficult to provide exact totals of funds provided to rape crisis centres.
	Taking the above into account, the total of grants awarded from the Victims' Fund, Home Office funding for independent sexual violence advisors (ISVAs) and the special fund to rape crisis centres, for  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) each year prior to this where records are available are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Table 1: 
			   Total (£) 
			 2004-05 (1, 2)199,270 
			 2005-06 (1, 2)543,607 
			 2006-07 (1, 3)631,038 
			 2007-08 (3)862,315 
			 2008-09 (4)1,744,089 
			 (1) Please note that the starred figures include grants provided to the umbrella organisation, Rape Crisis Co-ordination Group, a predecessor to Rape Crisis (England and Wales). (2)Victims' Fund. (3)Victims' Fund and Home Office (ISVA) funding. (4)Victims' Fund, Home Office (ISVA) funding and Special Fund. 
		
	
	Approximately £50,000 in funding was provided to two rape crisis centres, Southampton and South Essex rape and incest crisis centre, over the period 2000-02.
	These figures revise those provided to PQ174510 of 23 January 2008 and PQ255614 of 24 February. I have written to the hon. Members concerned.
	The following table provides the approximated total of grants awarded to the umbrella organisation for years where records are available:
	
		
			  Table: 2 
			   Total (£) 
			 2008-09 (1)167,685 
			 2007-08 (2)75,000 
			 2006-07 (3)30,000 
			 2005-06 (3)30,800 
			 2004-05 (3)18,200 
			 2002-03 (4)432,000 
			 2001-02 (4)406,000 
			 (1 )Home Office and Government Equalities Office. (2 )Home Office. (3 )Victims' Fund. (4 )Central Government. 
		
	
	There is no record of funding prior to this.
	Tables of grants provided under the different funding streams for the years where records are available have been placed in the Commons Library. They provide  (a) a full list of recipients of victims' fund grants  (b) a full list of ISVA grant recipients and  (c) a full list of special fund grant recipients. Tables will show which organisations received funding in which years, including grants provided in the current financial year (2008-09).
	For the next financial year (2009-10):
	we have recently announced a £1.6million cross-Government fund for the sexual violence voluntary sector (members of Rape Crisis (England and Wales) and The Survivors Trust). Grants to individual groups will be made in due course;
	the Tackling Violence Action Plan published in 2008 includes a commitment to ensure all victims have access to an ISVA by 2011 and a new bidding round will be announced shortly;
	Victims' fund arrangements for 2009-10 will be announced shortly.
	The tables of grants placed in the Commons Library show:
	approximately twelve rape crisis centres which did not receive Victims' Fund support in 2008-09 had received grants from the fund in previous years;
	two rape crisis centres which had had independent sexual violence advisors in 2007-08 did not have ISVAs in 2008-09.
	Individual grant recipients, including members of Rape Crisis England and Wales can be identified from the tables. As already noted, Government does not hold records of the membership of Rape Crisis England and Wales, or its predecessor bodies. Therefore, it is not possible to be definitive regarding which rape crisis centres (members of Rape Crisis England and Wales) did or did not receive grants in any given year.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farm holdings there were in each agricultural sector in each county in each year since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: I have placed in the House Library tables showing the number of registered holdings by farm type and county in England for 1997-2008. Figures prior to 2000 are for main holdings only. From 2000 onwards main and minor holdings are included. The farm type categories were altered in 2004. A register improvement exercise in 2001 and the introduction of the Single Payment Scheme in 2005 has lead to an increase in the number of registered holdings.
	Figures for Wales are available from the Welsh Assembly Government.

Agriculture

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of  (a) livestock,  (b) dairy and  (c) arable farmers in each region in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The following tables show the number of farmers, partners and directors by farm type based on predominant activity in England regions for 2006-08.
	
		
			  Total farmers by farm type (based on predominant activity) in England 
			  2006 
			  Region   Cereals  General Cropping  Horticulture  Specialist Pigs  Specialist Poultry  Dairy 
			 North East Holdings 1,003 104 116 50 185 196 
			  Total Farmers 1,642 174 189 74 266 380 
			 North West Holdings 670 520 790 163 647 2,990 
			  Total Farmers 1,036 966 1,306 252 992 6,423 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber Holdings 2,987 1,434 624 413 771 1,156 
			  Total Farmers 4,788 2,511 970 570 1,103 2,387 
			 East Midlands Holdings 4,065 1,516 807 198 685 975 
			  Total Farmers 6,190 2,457 1,326 281 903 1,936 
			 West Midlands Holdings 2,098 1,058 1,268 214 744 1,945 
			  Total Farmers 3,245 1,902 2,059 327 1,055 3,905 
			 Eastern Holdings 5,384 2,959 1,406 440 834 203 
			  Total Farmers 8,062 4,617 2,231 609 1,111 346 
			 South East (inc London) Holdings 3,205 558 1,822 258 838 654 
			  Total Farmers 4,696 910 2,869 341 1,290 1,178 
			 South West Holdings 2,951 653 2,413 459 1,447 4,509 
			  Total Farmers 4,269 1,115 3,785 658 2,192 9,150 
			 England Holdings 22,363 8,802 9,246 2,195 6,151 12,628 
			  Total Farmers 33,929 14,654 14,734 3,111 8,911 25,706 
		
	
	
		
			  Region   Grazing Livestock (LFA)  Grazing Livestock (lowland)  Mixed  Other  All Types 
			 North East Holdings 1,469 768 522 2,509 6,922 
			  Total Farmers 2,606 1,160 930 1,046 8,467 
			 North West Holdings 3,452 3,341 857 10,007 23,437 
			  Total Farmers 5,790 5,268 1,521 3,560 27,113 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber Holdings 2,832 2,286 1,344 7,752 21,599 
			  Total Farmers 4,764 3,413 2,408 3,066 25,981 
			 East Midlands Holdings 906 3,034 1,147 8,240 21,573 
			  Total Farmers 1,456 4,530 2,014 3,091 24,183 
			 West Midlands Holdings 1,593 5,004 1,607 10,680 26,211 
			  Total Farmers 2,676 7,666 2,912 3,866 29,613 
			 Eastern Holdings 0 2,235 1,003 8,215 22,679 
			  Total Farmers 0 3,139 1,708 3,491 25,312 
			 South East (inc London) Holdings 0 5,482 1,421 12,628 26,866 
			  Total Farmers 0 8,310 2,332 5,998 27,923 
			 South West Holdings 2,414 10,744 2,935 22,569 51,094 
			  Total Farmers 3,976 16,820 5,167 8,045 55,177 
			 England Holdings 12,666 32,894 10,836 82,600 200,381 
			  Total Farmers 21,266 50,306 18,991 32,163 223,770 
		
	
	
		
			  2007 
			  Region   Cereals  General Cropping  Horticulture  Specialist Pigs  Specialist Poultry  Dairy 
			 North East Holdings 1,025 103 110 60 172 160 
			  Total Farmers 1,687 165 164 84 256 308 
			 North West Holdings 769 594 761 186 636 2,529 
			  Total Farmers 1,165 1,034 1,206 280 942 5,358 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber Holdings 3,227 1,315 625 433 719 960 
			  Total Farmers 4,993 2,230 892 588 1,038 1,987 
			 East Midlands Holdings 4,229 1,438 766 220 705 847 
			  Total Farmers 6,206 2,215 1,197 294 931 1,577 
			 West Midlands Holdings 2,295 999 1,240 245 746 1,599 
			  Total Farmers 3,503 1,702 1,916 361 1,154 3,126 
			 Eastern Holdings 5,522 2,808 1,352 462 860 197 
			  Total Farmers 7,983 4,246 2,016 620 1,074 301 
			 South East (inc London) Holdings 3,236 572 1,778 298 787 579 
			  Total Farmers 4,580 856 2,654 391 1,217 950 
			 South West Holdings 3,262 736 2,308 549 1,567 3,778 
			  Total Farmers 4,700 1,171 3,449 800 2,390 7,475 
			 England Holdings 23,565 8,565 8,940 2,453 6,192 10,649 
			  Total Farmers 34,818 13,619 13,494 3,418 9,002 21,082 
		
	
	
		
			  Region   Grazing Livestock (LFA)  Grazing Livestock (lowland)  Mixed  Other  All Types 
			 North East Holdings 1,488 795 475 2,904 7,292 
			  Total Farmers 2,529 1,136 790 1,281 8,400 
			 North West Holdings 3,652 3,307 715 10,935 24,084 
			  Total Farmers 5,806 4,754 1,216 4,637 26,397 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber Holdings 2,894 2,385 1,191 8,709 22,458 
			  Total Farmers 4,582 3,275 2,120 3,715 25,421 
			 East Midlands Holdings 941 2,986 1,030 9,098 22,260 
			  Total Farmers 1,403 4,097 1,692 3,822 23,434 
			 West Midlands Holdings 1,628 5,048 1,370 12,049 27,219 
			  Total Farmers 2,538 7,241 2,512 5,041 29,095 
			 Eastern Holdings 0 2,165 866 9,215 23,447 
			  Total Farmers 0 2,924 1,435 4,050 24,650 
			 South East (inc London) Holdings 0 5,354 1,212 14,282 28,098 
			  Total Farmers 0 7,713 1,974 7,049 27,383 
			 South West Holdings 2,422 10,728 2,426 25,532 53,308 
			  Total Farmers 3,798 15,639 4,136 10,663 54,223 
			 England Holdings 13,025 32,768 9,285 92,724 208,166 
			  Total Farmers 20,657 46,779 15,875 40,258 219,004 
		
	
	
		
			  2008 
			  Region   Cereals  General Cropping  Horticulture  Specialist Pigs  Specialist Poultry  Dairy 
			 North East Holdings 1,069 100 121 67 175 149 
			  Total Farmers 1,716 155 181 90 257 291 
			 North West Holdings 814 591 746 206 717 2,403 
			  Total Farmers 1,240 1,007 1,146 318 1,076 5,130 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber Holdings 3,387 1,192 635 435 792 925 
			  Total Farmers 5,196 2,003 899 602 1,159 1,909 
			 East Midlands Holdings 4,310 1,358 768 229 756 785 
			  Total Farmers 6,294 2,091 1,129 304 977 1,488 
			 West Midlands Holdings 2,374 966 1,246 264 835 1,510 
			  Total Farmers 3,594 1,633 1,823 376 1,280 2,944 
			 Eastern Holdings 5,668 2,611 1,336 472 925 188 
			  Total Farmers 8,061 3,922 1,969 651 1,159 282 
			 South East (inc London) Holdings 3,231 586 1,812 339 900 551 
			  Total Farmers 4,515 882 2,667 449 1,364 911 
			 South West Holdings 3,344 720 2,382 588 1,706 3,601 
			  Total Farmers 4,786 1,151 3,450 835 2,605 7,167 
			 England Holdings 24,197 8,124 9,046 2,600 6,806 10,112 
			  Total Farmers 35,402 12,843 13,263 3,625 9,877 20,122 
		
	
	
		
			  Region   Grazing Livestock (LFA)  Grazing Livestock (lowland)  Mixed  Other  All Types 
			 North East Holdings 1,493 786 450 3,039 7,449 
			  Total Farmers 2,458 1,080 756 1,415 8,399 
			 North West Holdings 3,680 3,340 753 11,180 24,430 
			  Total Farmers 5,733 4,781 1,299 4,839 26,569 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber Holdings 2,927 2,395 1,163 8,892 22,743 
			  Total Farmers 4,497 3,209 2,044 3,957 25,476 
			 East Midlands Holdings 943 3,028 993 9,342 22,512 
			  Total Farmers 1,383 4,066 1,631 4,070 23,433 
			 West Midlands Holdings 1,613 5,003 1,412 12,326 27,549 
			  Total Farmers 2,490 7,038 2,539 5,378 29,095 
			 Eastern Holdings 0 2,170 850 9,455 23,675 
			  Total Farmers 0 2,901 1,401 4,205 24,550 
			 South East (inc London) Holdings 0 5,383 1,219 14,423 28,444 
			  Total Farmers 0 7,490 1,968 7,312 27,557 
			 South West Holdings 2,359 10,680 2,515 25,823 53,718 
			  Total Farmers 3,633 15,263 4,276 11,260 54,425 
			 England Holdings 13,015 32,785 9,355 94,480 210,520 
			  Total Farmers 20,194 45,827 15,915 42,436 219,505 
			  Notes:  (a) Total farmers includes full and part time farmers, partners, directors and spouses if working on the holding.  Source:  June Agriculture Survey

Agriculture

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of  (a) sheep,  (b) cattle and  (c) pigs in each region in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The following tables show the number of sheep, cattle and pigs by region in England at June each year for 2006-08.
	
		
			  (a) Sheep numbers 
			   2006  2007  2008 
			 North East 1,937,418 1,935,131 1,942,443 
			 North West 3,020,311 2,969,866 3,010,555 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 2,182,891 2,161,907 2,189,533 
			 East Midlands 1,254,989 1,235,414 1,221,495 
			 West Midlands 2,310,435 2,270,858 2,262,634 
			 Eastern 343,076 354,705 360,095 
			 South East (inc London) 1,367,876 1,346,358 1,362,784 
			 South West 3,256,412 3,162,338 3,185,675 
			 England Total 15,673,409 15,436,577 15,535,215 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) Cattle numbers 
			   2006  2007  2008 
			 North East 289,272 285,764 276,496 
			 North West 990,344 964,647 951,233 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 601,956 582,795 561,989 
			 East Midlands 525,601 519,102 502,945 
			 West Midlands 789,463 760,198 741,252 
			 Eastern 220,425 220,385 213,425 
			 South East (inc London) 469,017 461,098 454,740 
			 South West 1,853,164 1,803,569 1,784,397 
			 England Total 5,739,243 5,597,559 5,486,477 
		
	
	
		
			  (c) Pig numbers 
			   2006  2007  2008 
			 North East 82,175 85,319 86,148 
			 North West 162,063 160,269 152,889 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 1,334,973 1,238,776 1,254,688 
			 East Midlands 423,030 418,436 407,698 
			 West Midlands 224,907 235,283 222,480 
			 Eastern 1,070,400 1,065,986 1,041,441 
			 South East (inc London) 272,007 259,321 242,604 
			 South West 487,877 480,055 446,441 
			 England Total 4,057,433 3,943,444 3,854,388 
			  Source: June Agricultural Survey and Cattle Tracing System

Agriculture

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of  (a) sheep flocks,  (b) cattle herds and  (c) pig herds in each region in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The following tables show the number of holdings recording sheep, cattle and pigs by region in England at June each year for 2006-08.
	
		
			  (a) Holdings with  s heep 
			   2006  2007  2008 
			 North East 2,805 2,570 2,567 
			 North West 7,223 6,504 6,556 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 6,271 5,690 5,733 
			 East Midlands 4,429 3,991 4,042 
			 West Midlands 7,731 7,009 7,017 
			 Eastern 2,625 2,340 2,378 
			 South East (inc London) 6,052 5,403 5,514 
			 South West 12,929 11,681 11,793 
			 England Total 50,065 45,189 45,600 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) Holdings with cattle 
			   2006  2007  2008 
			 North East 2,400 2,372 2,315 
			 North West 8,124 7,991 7,721 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 6,253 6,161 5,917 
			 East Midlands 5,168 5,114 4,959 
			 West Midlands 7,739 7,482 7,191 
			 Eastern 2,785 2,785 2,670 
			 South East (inc London) 5,219 5,163 4,966 
			 South West 16,091 15,640 15,068 
			 England Total 53,779 52,707 50,807 
		
	
	
		
			  (c) Holdings with pigs 
			   2006  2007  2008 
			 North East 237 240 238 
			 North West 724 758 785 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 1,533 1,491 1,456 
			 East Midlands 853 878 887 
			 West Midlands 956 975 994 
			 Eastern 1,442 1,439 1,423 
			 South East (inc London) 1,335 1,342 1,418 
			 South West 2,548 2,563 2,571 
			 England Total 9,628 9,686 9,772 
			 Source: June Agricultural Survey and Cattle Tracing System

Agriculture: Foreign Workers

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what meetings he and his officials have had with Home Office officials on the availability of non-EU sheep shearers in summer 2009.

Jane Kennedy: No meetings on this matter have taken place between DEFRA and the Home Office. However, DEFRA and Home Office officials have discussed this issue with UK industry representatives separately.

Animal Welfare: Training

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on the provision of training in animal welfare to staff.

Jane Kennedy: DEFRA offers a wide range of comprehensive guidance and training programmes to local authorities on animal welfare.
	In 2006-07, DEFRA arranged a number of training seminars for local authority officers to help explain new powers under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Guidance was also issued on the use of improvement notices under the 2006 Act.
	More recent examples include:
	9 January 2008, The Welfare of Animals During Transport;
	10 November 2008, Control of Animal By-Products, and;
	11 March 2009, Stock Assessment: Lambing
	We have also arranged a Stock Assessment: Dairy Cattle course for 30 April 2009.

Bees: Research

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will meet the British Beekeepers Association to discuss honey bee health research; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: I met the British Beekeepers' Association (BBKA) on 2 February to discuss bee health research following my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's announcement on 21 January on the allocation of more funding by DEFRA in this area. This funding forms part of a wider programme of research into threats to pollinators including honeybees, the details of which are currently being finalised with the other funders. Once these discussions have been concluded, my officials will be arranging meetings with the BBKA and other interested parties to discuss the programme in more detail.

Bluetongue Disease: Vaccination

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he plans to take to take to increase awareness of  (a) bluetongue and  (b) the bluetongue vaccination in the farming community.

Jane Kennedy: DEFRA raises awareness of Bluetongue disease, and the benefits of vaccination against it, through the regularly updated Bluetongue web pages and through its ongoing communications to livestock keepers through livestock market road shows, Farming Link magazine and through the support it offers to the industry-led Joint campaign Against Bluetongue (JAB).
	The agreed approach of the awareness raising campaign is that Government provide updates on the disease risks, numbers of cases in UK and on the continent, and that industry leaders are the primary communicators to encourage vaccination. JAB includes a wide range of livestock and veterinary organisations, including the companies producing the vaccines, and supported by DEFRA.
	DEFRA also updates wider stakeholders through regular meetings, and encourages industry to use these messages in their own communications with their members. The Chief Veterinary Officer or Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer will also raise awareness of the disease and promote vaccination in talks or interviews.

Bluetongue Disease: Vaccination

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Government has to encourage the use of the surplus stock of short-dated bluetongue vaccine in the next 12 months.

Jane Kennedy: Vaccination in England and Wales is voluntary. In line with the Core Group of industry stakeholders, we believe that mass vaccination can be best—and most rapidly—achieved through a voluntary approach, supported by an industry-led communications campaign promoting the benefits of vaccination.
	DEFRA raises awareness of Bluetongue disease, and the benefits of vaccination against it, through the regularly updated Bluetongue web pages and through its ongoing communications to livestock keepers through livestock market road shows, Farming Link magazine and through the support it offers to the industry-led Joint campaign Against Bluetongue (JAB).

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what training he plans to provide for those undertaking the vaccination of wildlife to reduce levels of bovine tuberculosis.

Jane Kennedy: Those undertaking vaccination will be suitably trained and accredited in all the skills necessary to perform the role. This will include expertise in trapping and injecting badgers as well as other skills such as sett identification.

Chemicals: EU Law

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what amendments his Department proposed to the EU Directive on the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals during its drafting.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Negotiations to agree the final legal text of the EU REACH Regulation (no. 1907/2006) covered a three-year period, from October 2003 to December 2006. DEFRA led for the UK during the negotiations, working alongside other Government Departments and taking account of industry and NGO views. The aim throughout was to secure a robust and workable regulation that balanced the interests of industry with a high level of protection for human health and the environment.
	Between July and December 2005 the UK held the presidency of the European Union, and during this time developed the text which secured political agreement as the Council's Common Position following the first reading in the European Parliament. A significant initiative put forward jointly by the UK, known as 'One Substance, One Registration' (OSOR) was incorporated into the Common Position. This was assessed at the time as potentially providing savings in registration costs for UK industry of up to €128 million over the 10-year registration period, compared with the original Commission estimates.
	During the second reading negotiations in the second half of 2006, the UK strongly supported initiatives to require substitution plans for hazardous chemicals subject to authorisation, and measures to further reduce animal testing and encourage development and use of non-animal alternative methods.

Defence Estates: Floods

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many sites owned by the Ministry of Defence in England and Wales have been assessed by the Environment Agency as vulnerable to flooding.

Kevan Jones: I have been asked to reply.
	I am replying because risk assessment on Ministry of Defence (MOD) sites is a matter for the MOD. The Environment Agency has not made any assessment of the vulnerability of specific MOD sites to flooding. However, MOD uses data published by the Environment Agency to assess the general level of flood risk to its sites, but does not collate this centrally. We are augmenting this data by developing the means to assess the significance of impacts that a changing climate or an extreme climate event, including flooding, could have on MOD sites. Results of these assessments will then influence site planning and development, location and design of buildings, and will inform site plans to enable risks to be managed effectively.

Departmental Billing

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of its suppliers his Department has paid within 10 days of receipt of invoice in the last four months.

Huw Irranca-Davies: holding answer 20 March 2009
	The information for the core-Department is as follows:
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 November 2008 33.1 
			 December 2008 77.4 
			 January 2009 99.8 
			 February 2009 99.8

Departmental Official Hospitality

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his Department's entertainment budget was in each of the last five years.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The core-Department's financial system does not have an expenditure category for entertainment.

Departmental Press

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his estimate is of the expenditure of his Department on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in each year since 1997.

Huw Irranca-Davies: DEFRA was created in June 2001. Its expenditure on newspapers, magazines and periodicals since then through its library services is set out as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2001-02 118,160 
			 2002-03 91,095 
			 2003-04 60,480 
			 2004-05 66,546 
			 2005-06 67,141 
			 2006-07 72,000 
			 2007-08 64,747 
		
	
	These figures exclude the spend on newspapers, magazines and periodicals by DEFRA local offices and the Department's Executive agencies. These figures could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Public Appointments

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which former  (a) hon. Members who have left Parliament since 1997 and  (b) Members of the House of Lords from each party have been appointed to positions on public bodies within his Department's responsibility; and who made each appointment.

Huw Irranca-Davies: holding answer 27 March 2009
	 This information is not held centrally. Information on board membership and remuneration is published in individual bodies' annual reports and accounts.

Departmental Surveys

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 17 March 2008,  Official Report, column 1007W, on departmental surveys, if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's most recent staff survey.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Staff surveys are valuable tools used by Departments to help them improve performance. The results of the 2005 DEFRA survey are available on the civil service website at:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management/statistics/news/staff_survey/index.asp
	The results of the pilot Civil Service Employee Engagement Survey in which DEFRA is participating are expected to be produced as a consolidated external publication in June 2009. The DEFRA results from the pilot will be published later in the year following communication and feedback from staff.

Departmental Temporary Employment

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his Department's policy is on the renewal of the contracts of  (a) temporary and  (b) agency staff.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The core-Department's policy on the renewal of the contracts of  (a) temporary and  (b) agency staff is to consider any such renewal in accordance with business need, value for money, the public procurement rules and the consolidated employment legislation.

Dog Wardens: Finance

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding his Department has provided to local authorities to fund the work of dog wardens in each of the last five years.

Huw Irranca-Davies: DEFRA does not fund the work of dog wardens. In accordance with the Environmental Protection Act 1990, local authorities are required to appoint an officer for the purpose of dealing with stray dogs found in their locality.
	With the commencement of section 68 of the Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act 2005 in April 2008, which relieves the police of the responsibility of dealing with stray dogs, additional funding of £4 million a year has been provided to local authorities in England and Wales through the Revenue Support Grant to cover additional costs of providing an out-of-hours service for stray dogs.

Fisheries

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information his Department holds on the number of small fishing craft which have been taken out of service in England under the capping scheme and have been registered in  (a) Scotland and  (b) Northern Ireland in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: holding answer 31 March 2009
	25 inshore vessels have applied to change port from English to Scottish and Northern Ireland ports in the last 12 months(1). However to date only 15 have completed the process, six of which transferred to Northern Ireland and the rest to Scotland. This is out of nearly 2,500 English registered inshore fleet vessels.
	This is an average of two vessels re-registered monthly, with a steady level of activity. In comparison four vessels have re-registered from Scotland into England over the same period.
	Since the English licence capping system was implemented on 9 February 2009, there has been a slight increase in vessels changing port (four vessels in March). However, it is not possible to establish whether this directly stems from the licence capping scheme. This information is not captured as part of the change of registered port process.
	(1) Data supplied by Marine and Coastguard Agency.

Food Supply

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his most recent estimate is of the level of UK food self-sufficiency; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: In 2008, the UK was 60.3 per cent. self-sufficient in all food and 72.9 per cent. self-sufficient in indigenous food. These figures were published for the first time on 26 March 2009 in Agriculture in the United Kingdom. These figures are provisional.

Food: Packaging

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with supermarkets on food  (a) packaging waste and  (b) labelling; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: As part of the development of the Packaging Strategy DEFRA held two stakeholder workshops last year which were attended by retailers as well as other industries involved in the packaging chain.
	We are currently in discussions with supermarkets through the Courtauld Commitment, which is a voluntary agreement between the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) and major UK grocery organisations. This led to zero growth in packaging in 2008 despite increases in sales and population.
	WRAP and the Food Standards Agency held a joint workshop earlier this year, with representatives from the food industry, consumer groups, and UK Government Departments to discuss how we can help improve consumer understanding and confidence of date labels and food storage. WRAP research has revealed that as much as 3 million tonnes of food is not being stored in the best way, or is being thrown away due to confusion over date labels.
	In addition to this retailers are represented on both the Advisory Committee on Packaging and the Packaging Recycling Action Group which discuss a range of issues concerning packaging and packaging waste.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I also met the supermarkets on 21 January to encourage them to improve origin labelling of food and to comply with the FSA guidance on origin labelling, so that the information on the label is clear and accurate and does not confuse consumers.

Food: Waste Disposal

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to reduce the amount of food waste sent to landfill; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The Government are focused on reducing the amount of food being wasted by producers, retailers and consumers; and by encouraging better management through environmentally friendly treatment of food waste where prevention is not possible, to minimise the amount that reaches landfill.
	The Government are helping reduce the amount of food being wasted through their ongoing work with the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to cut significantly the amount of food wasted in the supply chain and in the home. This requires a twin-track approach—working closely with retailers and manufacturers, and also directly with households. The two main programmes contributing to this work are the 'Courtauld Commitment' and the 'Love Food Hate Waste' campaign.
	Not all food waste can be prevented, and the Government have been actively promoting and providing support for greater uptake of anaerobic digestion (AD), a proven renewable energy technology, as a sustainable option for unavoidable food waste that would otherwise go to landfill. AD offers a considerable climate change benefit through avoided landfill methane emissions, with the energy generated also offsetting fossil fuel power generation, and counting towards our renewable energy targets. There are currently 37 local authorities that have separate food waste collections. These collections are expected to become more widespread in the future.

Lighting: Business

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of businesses which have begun to use energy-efficient light bulbs in the last four years.

Jane Kennedy: Neither DEFRA nor DECC hold the information requested.

Meat

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what classification his Department gives to meat from animals fed on non-organic feedstuffs.

Jane Kennedy: EU organic standards permit a proportion of conventionally produced ingredients (10 per cent. until the end of 2009 and then 5 per cent. until the end of 2011) to be included in feed for organic pigs and poultry when organically produced ingredients are not available. Permission to use conventional ingredients in feed for organic pigs and poultry will cease after 2011 and its equivalent for organic ruminants has already ceased.
	DEFRA has received an approach from some organic organisations seeking permission for organic farmers to feed their livestock entirely on conventionally produced feed in return for not selling their product as organic, while retaining organic status for the future as market conditions improve. It is not possible to allow this within the rules on organic production applying across the EU. An informal consultation on the proposal indicated that there was limited support for it.

Nitrate Vulnerable Zones

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent estimate he has made of the costs to farmers arising from implementation of the EU Nitrates Directive.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations (2008), which implement the EU Nitrates Directive in England, increase the area designated as nitrate vulnerable zones (NVZs) to approximately 70 per cent. of the country and tighten the mandatory Action Programme of measures that apply within these zones. The Impact Assessment estimates the total annual cost to farmers of complying with the Regulations to be £48.5 million to £68.6 million. With the recent success of the UK's request for a derogation from the livestock manure Nitrogen farm limit, one of the more demanding requirements set by the directive, these costs could be reduced by £16.9 million to £21.7 million per annum.
	The Impact Assessment can be downloaded via:
	http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/em/uksiem_20082349_en.pdf

Special Areas of Conservation: Cumbria

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made on the proposed designation of Bolton Fell Moss Site of Special Scientific Interest as a Special Area for Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive as a degraded raised bog capable of natural regeneration; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Bolton Fell Moss candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC) has not yet been formally adopted by the Commission as a Site of Community Importance (SCI). We expect that process to be finalised towards the end of the year. My Department will then institute the necessary procedures to formally designate this site as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under the Habitats Directive.

Stray Dogs

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of stray dogs in each of the last five years.

Huw Irranca-Davies: DEFRA does not hold data on numbers of stray dogs. Local authorities are required to keep records relating to the stray dogs they take in and are available for inspection by the public, free of charge.

Tourism: Rural Areas

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding is provided by his Department to promote rural tourism.

Huw Irranca-Davies: holding answer 27 March 2009
	 The Department for Culture Media and Sport, DCMS has lead responsibility for supporting or promoting rural tourism.
	However, the Rural Development Programme for England 2007-13, a joint EU-DEFRA funded programme, provides support to improve quality of life in rural areas and diversify the rural economy. This includes support to encourage rural tourism. Over the seven year life of the programme around €38 million (around £35 million) has been allocated to this measure.

Water Companies: Credit

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of changes to credit ratings for water supply companies in the last six months; what assessment he has made of the effect of such changes on the viability of such companies; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Ofwat, as economic regulator of the water and sewerage sector in England and Wales, monitors the financial performance of the regulated water companies.
	It is our view that the finances of water companies are in good shape. There have been no changes to the credit ratings of the regulated water companies, with the exception of Yorkshire Water where it was downgraded by one credit rating agency, Standard and Poors, from A- to BBB. Standard and Poors clearly cite company specific issues relating to delays in the implementation of a new capital structure as the reason for the downgrade. However, it is noted that, to date, Yorkshire Water has maintained its A3 rating with another credit rating agency, Moodys.
	The regulatory regime operated by Ofwat includes a number of safeguards that protect the interests of customers of water companies should they get into financial difficulties. For example, there is the cash lock-up procedure which prohibits transfers out of the regulated business when a company's credit rating goes below a certain threshold.

Water: Fees and Charges

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate his Department has made of the number of households who have spent more than three per cent. of their disposable income on water bills in each of the last 10 years.

Huw Irranca-Davies: holding answer 31 March 2009
	No such estimate has been made by my Department. However, estimates have been made by the Department for Work and Pensions.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Animal Experiments

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many proposals were made under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to use animals in procedures in 2008; and how many of these proposals were accepted.

Shahid Malik: During 2008 735 project licences were applied for under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. Of these 665 have now been granted, 61 are still being dealt with and nine are not being proceeded with.
	A feature of the regulatory regime under the 1986 Act is the discussion that often takes place at an early stage between applicants (or prospective applicants) and the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate. When serious deficiencies are discovered with the proposals during these early discussions with the local inspectors this means that proposals unlikely to meet the Act's stringent requirements are revised or withdrawn before formal refusal becomes necessary.

Anti-terrorism Control Orders

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 12 January 2009,  Official Report, column 275W, on control orders, whether her Department has made subsistence payments to  (a) the individual referred to in the answer and  (b) other individuals subject to a control order in 2009.

Vernon Coaker: The individual mentioned in the answer of 12 January 2009, who was assessed as being ineligible for employment related benefits for a short period as a result of the terms of his control order, did receive subsistence payments from the Home Office. I refer the hon. Member to the information in that previous PQ answer for a breakdown of these subsistence payments.
	Other individuals subject to control orders have also received subsistence payments as part of the asylum support arrangements while subject to control orders.

Asylum: Expenditure

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much expenditure her Department has incurred in removing unsuccessful asylum seekers from the United Kingdom in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 16 December 2008
	It is not possible to provide a comprehensive figure for the overall cost of removals and deportations over a specified period of time because there are many different factors which may or may not be involved in the cost of a case (such as detention costs, travel costs, and the cost of escorting the individual in question). We are unable to disaggregate the specific costs and any attempt to do so would incur disproportionate cost.

Binyam Mohamed

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the threat to UK security of the return to the UK of Binyam Mohamed; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  whether conditions have been  (a) placed on and  (b) agreed with Binyam Mohamed upon his return to the UK; and whether conditions have been attached to his freedom of (i) movement and (ii) action once in the UK.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 26 February 2009
	The decision to request the release and return of Mr. Mohamed was taken in light of work by the US government to reduce the number of those detained at Guantanamo with the aim of closing the facility and our wish to offer practical and concrete support to those efforts. In reaching this decision full consideration was given of the need to maintain national security and the Government's overriding responsibilities in this regard. I cannot comment on individual cases but it goes without saying that full consideration has been given to national security.

Binyam Mohamed

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Answer of 11 March 2009,  Official Report, column 463W, on Binyam Mohamed, when she expects to be able to confirm the residency status of Mr. Mohamed.

Phil Woolas: We do not discuss the immigration status of individuals. However, as with any foreign national, consideration will be given as to whether their presence in the United Kingdom is conducive to the public good and, as always, all appropriate steps will be taken to protect national security.

Criminal Records Bureau

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2009,  Official Report, column 311W, on vetting: finance, under what budgetary headings the £88.2 million was spent; and what office accommodation is used by the Criminal Records Bureau for the processing of checks.

Shahid Malik: Information on expenditure has been published in the Criminal Records Bureau's (CRB) annual report and accounts 2007-08 which was laid before Parliament on 21 July 2008.
	The CRB uses office accommodation at three sites for processing Disclosure applications. Two of these sites are based in Liverpool, Merseyside and the third is in Darwen, Lancashire.

Departmental Public Appointments

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which former  (a) hon. Members who left Parliament since 1997 and  (b) Members of the House of Lords from each party have been appointed to positions on public bodies within her Department's responsibility; and who made each appointment.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 26 March 2009
	 This information is not held centrally. Information on board membership and remuneration is published in individual bodies' annual reports and accounts.

Deportation: Rwanda

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment the Government have made of the safety of former Rwandan rebels after repatriation to Rwanda.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 4 March 2009
	The UK Border Agency does not routinely monitor the treatment of individuals once they are removed from the UK. However, if specific allegations are made that any returnee to Rwanda, or any country, has experienced ill-treatment on return from the UK, then these are investigated through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) as a matter of urgency.

Detainees: Children

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those in immigration removal centres are  (a) under five,  (b) between five and 10,  (c) between 11 and 16 and  (d) between 16 and 18 years old.

Jacqui Smith: National Statistics on children detained solely under Immigration Act powers on a snapshot basis are published quarterly. This information is published in tables 9-11 of the Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical Summary, United Kingdom bulletins which are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html.

Entry Clearances: Tourism

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for tourist visas were  (a) received and  (b) granted in the latest year for which figures are available; what the average length of time was for processing a tourist visa in that period; and how much it costs to apply for a tourist visa in respect of (i) the US, (ii) Canada, (iii) Australia, (iv) Japan, (v) India and (vi) China.

Phil Woolas: The number of applications received in 2008 for tourist (non-family visit) visas, and the number of such visas issued, in each of the countries listed is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Non-family visit visas 
			  Country  Applications received  Visas issued 
			 United States 34,797 31,436 
			 Canada 4,007 3,047 
			 Australia 1,969 1,442 
			 Japan 1,870 1,667 
			 India 186,028 161,359 
			 China 90,738 84,216 
		
	
	Processing times for non-family visit visa applications in these countries in the last quarter of 2008 are given in the following tables:
	
		
			  Non-family visit visa processing times October to December  2008— straightforward applications 
			  Percentage 
			   Days 
			   5  10  15 
			 United States 50.50 94.40 98.00 
			 Canada 99.25 100.00 100.00 
			 Australia 9.25 13.75 77.75 
			 Japan 90.25 97.50 99.00 
			 India 71.50 98.50 99.75 
			 China 93.85 98.25 98.85 
		
	
	
		
			  Non-family visit visa processing times October to December 2008—non-straightforward applications 
			  Percentage 
			   Days 
			   5  10  15 
			 United States 16.75 65.60 84.80 
			 Canada 63.50 88.50 93.50 
			 Australia 11.75 27.75 56.00 
			 Japan 49.75 83.75 92.00 
			 India 36.60 88.50 95.25 
			 China 62.40 88.50 95.95 
		
	
	A straightforward application can be decided on the basis of the application and the supporting documents submitted without the need for further inquiries or more detailed scrutiny. A non-straightforward application requires more time to be decided, for example if more detailed inquiries or a personal interview are needed.
	UK visa fees are standard throughout the world. The current fees were introduced on 1 April 2008. The fee for a standard six month visit visa is £65 (previously £63) and for longer term visit visas (valid for one, two or five years) is £205 (previously £200).

Fines

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to increase the proportion of fines collected under  (a) fixed penalty notices and  (b) penalty notices for disorder.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 24 March 2009
	 The payment rate for fixed penalty notices (FPNs) for traffic offences is 85 per cent. (98 per cent. for endorsable offences).
	When PNDs and FPNs, apart from FPNs issued under the conditional offer FPN system, remain unpaid, they are registered as fines and come under the fines collection system. (If a conditional offer FPN is unpaid, the person concerned will be prosecuted).
	Once registered as fines unpaid, FPNs/PNDs are not tracked separately from fines imposed by the courts. HM Court Service can therefore not provide information about their particular enforcement outcome.

Foreign Workers

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department had spent on seminars provided by the UK Border Agency for businesses on the recruitment of migrant workers on the latest date for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 18 March 2009
	 The UK Border Agency (UKBA) has spent £37,065 during FY 2008-09 on events and seminars to raise organisations' awareness of the stringent new sponsorship and compliance requirements they must meet to become a registered sponsor under the new Points-Based Migration System.
	These costs include seminars for both employers and for educational institutions wishing to sponsor overseas students under the new Points Based System. They also include UKBA holding consultative meetings with key stakeholder groups including our three "Taskforces" (Joint Education Taskforce; Employer Taskforce; and Arts and Entertainments Taskforce).

Hezbollah

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used to distinguish between the military and political wings of Hezbollah for the purposes of specifying proscribed organisations.

Vernon Coaker: The elements of Hezbollah which meet the criteria for proscription under section 3 of the Terrorism Act 2000 are listed in Schedule 2 to that Act. The relevant entry proscribes "the military wing of Hezbollah, including the Jihad Council and all units reporting to it (including the Hezbollah External Security Organisation)". Those parts of Hezbollah which do not fall within the Schedule 2 entry are not proscribed.
	The External Security Organisation (ESO) of Hezbollah was originally proscribed in 2001. In July 2008 this was extended to cover the entire military wing after evidence emerged of units not limited to the ESO being concerned in terrorism, particularly in the provision of training and support to militant groups in Iraq and other terrorist groups in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
	In distinguishing between the political and military wings for the purposes of proscription, the Government's aim is to proscribe only those parts of Hezbollah which are directly concerned in terrorism, while recognising the legitimate political, social and humanitarian activities undertaken by other parts of Hezbollah.

House of Commons: Right of Search

William Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will obtain and place in the Library a copy of  (a) the synopsis and  (b) the full report of Sir Ian Johnston of the British Transport Police into the entry into and search of the parliamentary office of the hon. Member for Ashford (Damian Green).

Vernon Coaker: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin) on 10 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1830W.

Identity and Passport Service: Marketing

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding the Identity and Passport Service allocated for publicity and promotional purposes in its budget for 2008-09.

Shahid Malik: IPS forecasts it will spend £618,000 for publicity and promotional purposes in 2008-09.

Immigrants

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is her Department's policy to classify non-UK born UK nationals as non-immigrants when they are living within the UK.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 9 March 2009
	There are six categories of British national: British citizens, British overseas territories citizens, British Overseas citizens, British National (Overseas), British subject and British protected person. British citizenship and British overseas territories citizenship derive from a personal or ancestral connection with the United Kingdom or one of the remaining British overseas territories. The other statuses derive, in the main, from similar connections with a former British colony, or a foreign territory which was formerly under British jurisdiction.
	Only British citizens and certain British subjects have the right of abode in the United Kingdom. The others are subject to UK immigration control, although British overseas territories citizens who derive that status from a Gibraltar connection enjoy certain rights of free movement and establishment under the EC Treaty. As regards entry to the United Kingdom, other types of British national are not treated any differently to those of any other nationality when it comes to settlement. They have to qualify under the immigration rules in the same way as any other applicant.

Immigration: Manpower

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1638W, on immigration: manpower, how much her Department paid to  (a) the French authorities and  (b) private companies in 2008.

Phil Woolas: The figures for the amount paid to  (a) French authorities and  (b) private companies in relation to Border Force operations in France for period 2007-08 are as follows:
	 (a) French authorities: £41,100
	 (b) Private companies: £6.7million
	These figures are taken from the latest period for which financial accounts are available.

Members: Correspondence

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Totnes of 24 November 2008 and 22 January 2009 on advice to the Government on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 4 March 2009
	A reply was sent on 19 March 2009.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter of 26 January 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. Mohammad Nadeem.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 26 March 2009.

Police: Surveillance

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how much each police force spent on overt surveillance operations in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how much has been spent by each police force on  (a) gathering and  (b) storing (i) film and (ii) data on (A) protesters and (B) media coverage of protests in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: This information is not held centrally by the Home Office.

Terrorism

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what the  (a) total cost and  (b) cost per person to train UK workers to respond to a terrorist threat was in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the number of people trained to deal with a terror attack in  (a) urban,  (b) suburban and  (c) rural areas; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The number of people trained to deal with a terrorist attack and the costs of their training are not held centrally. Training for staff who may be involved in responding to a terrorist attack in the UK is widespread and is delivered across a number of Government agencies and departments and by the private sector, including the owners and managers of public facilities, transport operators and managers and those responsible for maintaining the national infrastructure.
	The police National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) through local police Counter Terrorism Security Advisers (CTSAs) deliver "Project Argus", a scenario based training event to businesses to help them identify and recover from a terrorist attack. "Project Argus" is a series of products that is delivered by NaCTSO and CTSAs and is free at the point of delivery. "Project Argus" is one of a number of activities undertaken by NaCTSO and CTSAs and it is not possible to identify separate costs for running Project Argus events.

Terrorism: Crime Prevention

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  pursuant to the Answer of 16 December 2008,  Official Report, columns 583-4W, on community relations, how much police forces in England and Wales have spent on Prevent-related projects and activities to date;
	(2)  if she will place in the Library a copy of the Association of Chief Police Officers' Strategy and Delivery Plan, referred to on page 49 of The Prevent Strategy: A Guide for Local Partners in England;
	(3)  what proportion of the money which has been allocated to police forces under the Prevent strand of Project Contest for 2008-09 has been spent on  (a) recruiting,  (b) training and  (c) paying community engagement and counter terrorism intelligence officers;
	(4)  how much police forces under the Prevent strand of Project Contest for 2008-09  (a) have been allocated for 2008-09 and  (b) is planned to be allocated for 2009-10 to each of the 24 police forces; how those police forces were selected; and how many community engagement and counter terrorism intelligence officer appointments have so far been made.

Vernon Coaker: Under the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) funding arrangements 2008-09 to 2010-11 OSCT are providing additional funding to establish over 300 new police posts across the country dedicated to the Prevent agenda. In 2008-09 we have costed around £12 million across 24 priority forces, and regional Counter Terrorism Units and Counter Terrorism Intelligence Units, the distribution of which was based on an assessment of population vulnerability and evaluated intelligence cross matched to the Department of Communities and Local Government's Preventing Violent Extremism areas. This includes provision for police officer and police staff training. Figures on recruitment costs are not held centrally.
	ACPO have advised that to date 154 Community Engagement and Counter-Terrorism Intelligence Officers have been appointed.
	We have also made the following funding available to the police this year to roll out police led Prevent programmes:
	£1 million for the Channel Project.
	£3 million for the 24 priority police forces to work with Government Offices and other partners to support PREVENT work in schools and education institutions including higher and further education.
	A joint funding package of £480,000 from the Home Office and the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) was given to The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) to pay for the copyright of The Kids Taskforce Watch Over Me DVDs for three years supplemented by 60 training days for teachers and partners.
	£1,263,632 to police forces and local authorities, for 13 police led projects relating to Objectives two and three (supporting vulnerable institutions and vulnerable individuals) of the Prevent Strategy.
	£100,000 for ACPO national Prevent Conferences.
	£82,178 to ACPO for national communities tension monitoring.
	£4,598,961 to support the work of the National Prison's Intelligence Unit and Prison Intelligence Officers and Analysts within Special Branches of individual forces.
	In addition, the police have invested their own resources into Prevent activity at a force and regional level.
	Discussions about allocation of CSR resource and funding for police led Prevent Programmes in 2009-10 are ongoing.
	I have been advised by ACPO that their Prevent Strategy and Delivery Plan is protectively marked as a restricted document, however, they have produced an unrestricted version of their Implementation plan: 'Prevent: The Policing Response to the Prevention of Terrorism and Violent Extremism' which they have made available to you. I have also arranged for copies to be placed in the House Library.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Departmental Buildings

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what buildings are owned or operated by his Department under a private finance initiative (PFI) arrangement; and which companies are involved with each such PFI arrangement.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) has no buildings owned or operated under a private finance initiative (PFI) arrangement.

Departmental Press

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  how many  (a) speeches and  (b) articles were prepared for Ministers in his Department by the Department's News Department in 2008 referred to on page 31 of his Department's communications strategy;
	(2)  if he will publish a list of the stories proactively placed in national newspapers by his Department's News Department in 2008 referred to on page 31 of his Department's communications strategy.

Douglas Alexander: Ministerial speeches and articles are published on the Department's web-site:
	www.dfid.gov.uk.
	DFID regularly updates national newspapers on aspects of its work.

Departmental Press

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many people are employed in his Department's  (a) News Department and  (b) Strategic Communications Department (i) with each job title, (ii) at each civil service grade and (iii) in each pay band; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: I refer the hon. Member to the 'White Book' published by the Central Office of Information (COI).

Departmental Press

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  if he will place in the Library a copy of the forward planning grid for 2009 of his Department's  (a) News Department and  (b) Strategic Communications Department;
	(2)  if he will place in the Library a copy of the unclassified version of his Department's strategic communications planning team's DFID News Diary for  (a) the week commencing 12 January 2009 and  (b) the week commencing 6 April 2009 referred to on page 31 of his Department's communications strategy;
	(3)  if he will place in the Library a copy of the checklist for preparing announcements, events, publications and speeches prepared by his Department's strategic communications planning department referred to on page 31 of his Department's communications strategy.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development's (DFID) forward planning grid, news diaries and checklist for preparing announcements, publications and speeches are for internal planning purposes only.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much capital spending is planned to be brought forward by his Department to  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10.

Douglas Alexander: No capital expenditure has been brought forward.

Sri Lanka: Internally Displaced Persons

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent steps the Government have taken to assist displaced persons in Sri Lanka.

Gareth Thomas: The UK Government have repeatedly pressed at the very highest levels that both parties to the conflict abide by their fundamental obligations under international humanitarian law and that the quantity and frequency of food and other relief shipments to the conflict areas be increased urgently.
	To strengthen international humanitarian response in Sri Lanka we are working closely in support of the UN in setting up a new multi-donor emergency response fund. This will be managed by the UN to provide a rapid response to assist displaced people. DFID has committed £5,000,000 of humanitarian assistance since September 2008. This has been used in the following ways:
	£1,500,000 to the International Committee of the Red Cross for relief supplies such as food and plastic sheets for shelter and medical staff to treat the injured;
	£1,000,000 to Office of the UN Humanitarian Co-ordinator for Refugees for activities such as overseeing the registration of internally displaced people (IDPs) and advocating to the Government of Sri Lanka for better conditions in camp settlements;
	£250,000 has been committed to the International Organisation for Migration for trucking and logistical services;
	£250,000 has been committed to the World Food Programme for food delivery and logistical services to other organisations such as non-governmental organisations (NGOs);
	£335,000 has been committed to IOM for emergency assistance in IDP camps.
	£750,000 is under consideration for UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) for setting up the multi donor Sri Lanka emergency response fund which will give funds quickly to NGOs once established; and
	£915,000 remains on hand ready to be flexibly programmed as the situation demands on the ground.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many non-UK citizens are  (a) seconded to and  (b) being trained by the British Army; how many in each case are from each foreign country; how long on average the (i) training programmes and (ii) secondments are; and what the (A) average cost and (B) objectives of each are;
	(2)  how many British Army personnel are  (a) being trained by and  (b) seconded to military forces outside the UK; where they are located; and what the purpose of these attachments is.

Bob Ainsworth: Given the many forms of secondment and training undertaken, involving over 100 countries and ranging, in terms of size, from individuals attending staff courses, through British military advisory and training teams, to the training being given by British Army units in Iraq and Afghanistan, the statistical information requested for average costs and lengths of secondment and courses is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Similarly, the specific objectives of each secondment and training course are not held centrally but the principal objective is to use British Army assets in peacetime to discourage hostility abroad, build and maintain trust between states, facilitate inter-operability between British and overseas armed forces, develop and sustain alliances, provide partner nations with the skills to undertake peace support and counter-terrorism operations, and assist in the development of democratically accountable armed forces; thereby helping to make a significant contribution to conflict prevention and resolution.
	The provision of training is also undertaken for income generation purposes but all offers of training are made only where they comply with wider Government policy on engagement and the relevant security restrictions applying to each country.

Armed Forces: Discrimination

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what steps the Government are taking to ensure women are not discriminated against in the armed forces;
	(2)  what steps the Government are taking to ensure members of ethnic minorities are not discriminated against in the armed forces.

Bob Ainsworth: The armed forces aim to create a working environment free from harassment, intimidation and unlawful discrimination in which everyone is not only valued and respected, but encouraged to realise their full potential, regardless of race, ethnic origin, religion, gender, social background or sexual orientation. All complaints of discrimination or harassment are taken seriously, investigated thoroughly and, when proven, dealt with robustly.
	The Departmental Equality and Diversity Scheme 2008-11, published in 2008, sets out the Ministry of Defence strategy for meeting our statutory duties on equality and diversity. Education is central to the drive to promote awareness of diversity and equality and to eliminate unacceptable behaviour. Equality and diversity training is undertaken at the Joint Equality and Diversity Training Centre and widely across all three Services. Other measures include: confidential advice and support helplines; trained equal and diversity advisers in every unit; guidance, videos and briefings on diversity issues. Progress made by the armed forces in promoting racial equality was recognised when all three Services finished in the top 10 public sector employers in Race for Opportunity's annual benchmarking report.
	An independent Service Complaints Commissioner for the Armed Forces took up her appointment on 1 January 2008. The Commissioner has the power to refer allegations of discrimination, harassment, bullying, and dishonest, improper or biased behaviour to the chain of command for action. The role of the Commissioner is to provide scrutiny and assurance that the complaints process is working effectively and that lessons are learned and changes implemented.

Armed Forces: Health Services

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average interval between operational tours for each medical regiment was in the latest period for which information is available.

Bob Ainsworth: Army Medical Regiments are deployed on operations in the close support role, as part of a wider medical framework that is provided by the Medical Group.
	The Medical Group can be commanded by any of the three single Services with sub-unit sized elements from the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. The Territorial Army also makes a significant contribution to the Medical Group, particularly in the hospital role. The provision of medical capability determines the composition of the Medical Group rather than being defined by a Medical Regiment, which could deploy as a whole or in part as a component of the Medical Regiment. As such, calculating the tour interval for these units does not appropriately reflect the dynamic manner in which they are deployed or indeed provide insight as to the effect on individual Service Personnel who are trickle posted through these units.

Armed Forces: Housing

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of his Department's expenditure on upgrading of service family accommodation in 2008-09; and what estimate he has made of such expenditure in each of the next five years.

Kevan Jones: Approximately £35 million is forecast to be spent in 2008-09 on upgrading Service Family Accommodation (SFA) in the United Kingdom to the Department's highest standard for condition. We are also spending £25 million on other improvements which would not constitute an upgrade, but improves the quality of life for Service occupants and their families.
	The current plan is for expenditure of approximately £48 million each year over the next five years on upgrading SFA in the United Kingdom.

Armed Forces: Housing

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of single family accommodation units were in condition  (a) 1,  (b) 2,  (c) 3 and  (d) 4 in each of the last five years.

Kevan Jones: Of those service family accommodation properties worldwide assessed for their standard for condition (SfC), the following percentage were at each SfC in the last five years:
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   July 2008  November 2007  April 2006  April 2005  April 2004 
			 S1fC 58 55 51 49 42 
			 S2fC 32 34 36 40 46 
			 S3fC 7 7 5 8 8 
			 S4fC 3 4 8 3 4

Armed Forces: Housing

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many single family accommodation units have dropped one or more condition levels in each of the last five years.

Kevan Jones: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Housing

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his most recent estimate is of the average cost of upgrading a single family accommodation unit.

Kevan Jones: It is not possible to provide a meaningful average cost of upgrading service family accommodation (SFA) properties as costs can vary considerably depending on the amount of work required for each property, the number of properties covered by a particular project and other factors such as size of properties and the type of construction.

Armed Forces: Housing

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how much has been spent on upgrading service family accommodation in 2008-09;
	(2)  what the planned spending on upgrading service family accommodation is in each of the next five years.

Kevan Jones: Up to 28 February, 2008-09 expenditure on upgrading service family accommodation (SFA) was some £30 million. The final expenditure for 2008-09 will not be confirmed until a little while after the financial year end.
	Upgrade expenditure of some £48 million is planned in each of the next five years.

Armed Forces: Recruitment

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the numbers of people to be recruited into the armed forces over the next three years.

Bob Ainsworth: Current recruiting targets for the Royal Navy and Army over the next three years are in the following tables. It should be noted that recruitment targets are constantly being monitored and readjusted by the services and therefore these figures are liable to change.
	
		
			  Royal Navy 
			   Number 
			 2009-10 4,621 
			 2010-11 4,604 
			 2011-12 4,471 
		
	
	
		
			  Army 
			   Number 
			 2009-10 14,303 
			 2010-11 14,320 
			 2011-12 14,307 
		
	
	The current downturn in the UK's economy has caused marked changes in the current outflow rate of RAF Servicemen and as a result the forecast outflow rates for the next several financial years (FY) have also had to be reassessed.
	This means that the previously derived recruiting targets are currently having to be recalculated.

Armed Forces: Recruitment

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on encouraging former members of the armed forces to re-enlist; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The Royal Navy and the RAF currently have no specific campaigns in place to encourage former member of their Services to rejoin, although the Royal Navy has conducted small-scale targeted letter campaigns in the past.
	In the Army, however, ex-soldiers are actively encouraged to rejoin the Army by the use of non-remunerative measures (maintenance of regimental links, public information activities, and press releases etc.) and remunerative measures in the form of the Army rejoin bounty. The bounty was introduced to offer a partial solution, in conjunction with the use of other manning levers, to fill shortfalls and ranges between £2,000 to £12,000 for those personnel already qualified to rejoin specific pinch point trades at specified ranks.

Army: Pay

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average pay of  (a) lance corporals and  (b) privates was at the latest date for which figures are available.

Bob Ainsworth: The average annual basic pay of lance corporals and privates and their equivalents in the RN/RM and RAF is provided in the following table. The averages shown are based on pay rates for 2009-10 as announced by the Government on 31 March 2009 and service numbers as at January 2009.
	
		
			  Rank  Average annual basic pay (£) 
			 Lance corporal and equivalent 24,401.97 
			 Private and equivalent 22,357.47

Army: Pay

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of  (a) lance corporals,  (b) privates,  (c) corporals,  (d) sergeants,  (e) warrant officer 2s,  (f) staff sergeants and  (g) warrant officer 1s are in the (i) higher and (ii) lower pay spine; and what criteria are used to determine an individual's appropriate spine.

Bob Ainsworth: The information requested is provided in the table. The figures represent the ranks specified and their equivalents in RN/RM and the RAF. The percentages shown are based on service numbers as at January 2009.
	
		
			  Rank  Percentage in higher band  Percentage in lower band 
			 Warrant Officer 1 70.46 29.54 
			 Warrant Officer 2 74.18 25.82 
			 Staff Sergeant 49.47 50.53 
			 Sergeant 74.77 25.23 
			 Corporal 72.37 27.63 
			 Lance Corporal 73.98 26.02 
			 Private 11.37 88.63 
		
	
	Allocation to the higher or lower pay range is on the basis of job evaluation, which is a well-established and objective means of assessing the weight of an individual job by analysing it as a series of elements or factors and giving it a numerical score. The six key factors used to determine job weight are: knowledge, skills and experience; complexity and mental challenge; judgment and decision-making; use of resources; communications; and working conditions. The results of job evaluation for all other rank trades are applied on a whole trade basis against the evaluation of a range of jobs selected as being representative of the main types of employment carried out across a particular trade, but with each rank being judged on its own merits.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has adopted the Carbon Trust's Carbon Management Programme.

Kevan Jones: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) set up a partnership agreement with the Carbon Trust in July 2004, the scope of which goes wider than the Carbon Management Programme. We are currently taking the necessary steps to achieve the Carbon Trust Standard which is a key enabler in achieving the Carbon Reduction Commitment.
	The MOD is continuing to work with the Carbon Trust on a number of specific carbon reduction projects. Examples include, the Catterick Garrison Carbon Management Energy Efficiency Project which, once implemented, is expected to result in a reduction of approximately 12,900 tonnes of CO2.

Departmental Magazine Press

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent on the production of in-house magazines in the Department in each year since 1997.

Kevan Jones: The armed forces and MOD produce a range of in-house publications, aimed at keeping our people informed and maintaining cohesion in our wider organisation. These range from major print journals with large circulations, which offset costs through advertising, to small electronic newsletters produced at little or no cost.
	Production costs of all in-house publications produced within the MOD are not available centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, details of production costs (excluding staff costs) of the principal central MOD publication, Defence Focus, for each year since 1998-99 are as follows:
	
		
			   £000 
			 1998-99 168 
			 1999-2000 174 
			 2000-01 162 
			 2001-02 165 
			 2002-03 205 
			 2003-04 179 
			 2004-05 180 
			 2005-06 203 
			 2006-07 198 
			 2007-08 166 
			 2008-09 187

Departmental Redundancy

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1558W, on redundancy, how many staff left his Department under staff exit schemes with a severance package worth  (a) between £100,000 and £125,000,  (b) between £125,001 and £150,000,  (c) between £150,001 and £200,000,  (d) between £200,001 and £250,000,  (e) between £250,001 and £500,000,  (f) between £500,001 and £1,000,000 and  (g) over £1,000,000 in each year since 2005-06.

Kevan Jones: To provide this specific information would require a departmental-wide trawl to ascertain the number and cost of involuntary and voluntary staff exits in each year since 2005-06. This could be done only at disproportionate cost.
	We do hold information centrally on the departmental-wide voluntary early release schemes which were launched in March 2005 and March 2008 (early retirement or early severance). The following table shows the number of staff who voluntarily left the Ministry of Defence in each year between 2005-06 and 2007-08, grouped by the cost of their severance package (over £100,000); and those who are due to leave in years 2008-09 and 2009-10. These early release schemes are expected to reduce the MOD Salary Costs by around £90 million over the period 2005-10. These early release schemes are expected to reduce the MOD salary costs by around £90 million over the period 2005-10.
	
		
			   £100,000-£125,000  £125,000-£150,000  £150,000-£200,000  £200,000-£250,000  £250,000-£500,000  £500,000-£1 million  £1 million plus  Total 
			 2005-06 62 47 43 10 5 0 0 167 
			 2006-07 37 43 60 16 8 0 0 164 
			 2007-08 103 70 107 16 8 0 0 304 
			 2008-09 35 19 31 21 10 0 0 116 
			 2009-10 32. 21 35 17 7 0 0 112 
			 Total 269 200 276 80 38 0 0 863 
		
	
	These figures include all those early departure costs met by the Ministry of Defence, including the cost of lump sum severance payments and the additional costs of benefits beyond the normal Principal Civil Service Pension scheme (PCSPS) benefits in respect of employees who retire early, and the capitalised costs of early payment of pension benefits.

Departmental Research

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much funding for research and development his Department has provided to defence companies in each year since 2000; and which 10 companies received the most funding.

Quentin Davies: Table 1.8 of UK Defence Statistics (UKDS) provides statistics on the Departments annual expenditure on Research and Development (R and D) activities. These are compiled in accordance with internationally agreed definitions. Expenditure is broken down into intramural (i.e. (R and D) activity undertaken within the Department) and extramural (i.e. that R and D activity undertaken outside the Department).
	The extramural figures cover the Department's expenditure on tasks undertaken by UK and overseas industry as well as small amounts tasked to Universities and Research Councils. Copies of the latest and previous editions of UKDS are held by the Library of the House and are available online at:
	http://www.dasa.mod.uk/applications/newWeb/www/index.php?page=67&pubType=l&thiscontent=10&date=2008-09-24
	Gross extramural expenditure on R and D as published in the latest UKDS (2008) is provided in the following table. These figures are currently subject to a data quality review and will be published once approval has been received from the UK Statistics Authority. Figures before 2001-02 are not directly comparable because from 2001-02 Government expenditure has been formally accounted for on a resource basis only.
	
		
			  £ million (inclusive of non-recoverable VAT at  current prices ) 
			   2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			  Research and Development (R and D)  
			 Total Gross Extramural Expenditure on R and D 1,698 2,502 2,364 2,288 2,229 
			  Research  
			 Total Gross Extramural Expenditure on Research 388 379 384 474 455 
			  Development  
			 Total Gross Extramural Expenditure on Development 1,311 2,123 1,980 1,814 1,775 
		
	
	The following lists provide the top 10 defence companies (in alphabetical order) which have received most of the annual expenditure on R and D tasks in each of the years from 2000-01 to 2007-08, the latest year where complete data are available.
	 2007-08
	BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd.
	BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies Ltd.
	BAE Systems Marine Ltd.
	Lockheed Martin Aerospace Systems Integration Corporation
	MBDA UK Ltd.
	QinetiQ Ltd.
	Rolls-Royce Power Engineering plc
	Thales Naval Ltd.
	Thales UK Ltd.
	Westland Helicopters Ltd.
	 2006-07
	BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd.
	BAE Systems Electronics Ltd.
	BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies Ltd.
	Lockheed Martin Aerospace Systems Integration Corporation
	MBDA UK Ltd.
	QinetiQ Ltd.
	Raytheon Systems Ltd.
	Thales Naval Ltd.
	Thales UK Ltd.
	Westland Helicopters Ltd.
	 2005-06
	Atkins Consultants Ltd.
	BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd.
	BAE Systems Electronics Ltd.
	BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies Ltd.
	BAE Systems Land Systems (Munitions and Ordnance) Ltd.
	Lockheed Martin Aerospace Systems Integration Corporation
	MBDA UK Ltd.
	QinetiQ Ltd.
	Raytheon Systems Ltd.
	Thales UK Ltd.
	 2004-05
	AMS Ltd.
	BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd.
	BAE Systems Avionics Ltd.
	BAE Systems Electronics Ltd.
	General Dynamics United Kingdom Ltd,.
	Lockheed Martin Aerospace Systems Integration Corporation
	MBDA UK Ltd.
	QinetiQ Ltd.
	Raytheon Systems Ltd.
	Thales Naval Ltd.
	 2003-04
	Alvis Vickers Ltd.
	AMS Ltd.
	BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd.
	BAE Systems Avionics Ltd.
	BAE Systems Electronics Ltd.
	General Dynamics United Kingdom Ltd.
	MBDA UK Ltd.
	QinetiQ Ltd.
	Saab Bofors Dynamics AB
	Westland Helicopters Ltd.
	 2002-03
	A.W.S.R. Shipping Ltd.
	Alenia Marconi Systems Ltd.
	Alvis Vickers Ltd.
	BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd.
	BAE Systems Electronics Ltd.
	MBDA UK Ltd.
	QinetiQ Ltd.
	Rolls Royce Power Engineering
	Royal Ordnance plc
	Thales Underwater Systems
	 2001-02
	Alenia Marconi Systems Ltd.
	BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd.
	BAE Systems Defence Ltd.
	BAE Systems Electronics Ltd.
	MBDA UK Ltd.
	QinetiQ Ltd.
	Raytheon Company
	Rolls Royce Power Engineering
	Thales Underwater Systems
	Vickers Engineering plc
	 2000-01
	Alenia Marconi Systems Ltd.
	BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd.
	BAE Systems Avionics Ltd.
	BAE Systems Defence Ltd.
	BAE Systems Electronics Ltd.
	EDS Defence Ltd.
	Lockheed Martin Corporation
	Matra BAE Dynamics (UK) Ltd.
	Rolls Royce Power Engineering
	Royal Ordnance plc

Directorate of Management and Consultancy Services

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what Directorate of Management and Consultancy Services studies have been issued since 1997-98:
	(2)  if he will place in the Library a copy of each Directorate of Management and Consultancy Services study produced in 2008.

Kevan Jones: I will place a copy of the list of substantive studies completed by the Ministry of Defence's Directorate of Management Consultancy Services between January 2000 and December 2008 in the Library of the House. While every effort has been made to ensure the completeness of the list over that period, it has not been possible to confirm absolutely that all substantive studies have been included due to a lack of consistency in recording information during a period of restructuring and change. Records prior to 2000 are not held on a central database and could be accessed and verified only at disproportionate cost.
	I will place copies of the reports produced in 2008 in the Library of the House, subject to a check to ensure they do not contain information that should be withheld. I will write to the hon. Member when this has been done.
	 Substantive answer from Kevan Jones to Liam Fox:
	I undertook to write to you on 28 January, (Official Report, column 509W) about the Directorate of Management and Consultancy Services.
	Officials have now completed the reports and I have placed copies in the Library of the House. I attach a copy for ease of reference.

Ex-servicemen: Mental Health

Alan Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the average cost to his Department of commissioning psychological reports in connection with cases raised by veterans in the last 12 months, broken down by category of expenditure.

Kevan Jones: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Responsibility for veterans' health care delivery lies with the NHS. The Department of Health and Devolved Administrations, with support from the Ministry of Defence have launched a number of community mental health pilots for veterans at six NHS Trusts across the UK. Centred on the patient and GP, these arrangements should make it easier for veterans with concerns about their mental health to seek and access help. For those veterans not in the catchment area of one of the pilot sites and who are not satisfied with the support provided to them through the NHS, MOD's Medical Assessment Programme, based at St. Thomas's hospital London, provides expert mental health assessments.

Ex-servicemen: Tribunals

Alan Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) veterans' tribunals and  (b) reviews of cases before veterans' tribunals there have been in each year since 2000.

Kevan Jones: Appeals from former service personnel under the War Pensions Scheme and from both service and former service personnel under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, are heard by the First-tier Tribunal, War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation, which is administered by the Tribunals Service, an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Justice. It was formerly known as the Pensions Appeals Tribunal.
	The records for the number of appeals in respect of War Pensions Scheme (WPS) start in 2001 and relate only to veterans. The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) came into existence in April 2005 and the cases provided in the following table relate to both the serving and veterans communities.
	
		
			   WPS  number  AFCS  number 
			 2001 5,402 n/a 
			 2002 4,785 n/a 
			 2003 5,365 n/a 
			 2004 3,708 n/a 
			 2005 3,911 n/a 
			 2006 3,642 6 
			 2007 3,821 25 
			 2008 3,410 94 
			 2009 1,026 60 
			 Total 35,070 185 
		
	
	Data are not kept in a format that can identify reviews of cases before veterans' tribunals, therefore, this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Falkland Islands: Aviation

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilian places are available each week on the RAF aircraft services between the UK and the Falklands Islands.

Bob Ainsworth: There are currently two return South Atlantic Airbridge flights each week operating between RAF Brize Norton and the Falkland Islands via Ascension Island. On each flight there are 26 seats available to fare paying passengers between the UK and Ascension Island and a further 29 seats available to fare paying passengers between the UK and the Falkland Islands. This reflects the requirements requested by the Governments of the Falkland Islands, Ascension and St. Helena.

Falkland Islands: Aviation

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  on how many occasions in each of the last three years flights between the UK and the Falklands Islands were cancelled because weather conditions prevented aircraft from landing on Ascension Island;
	(2)  what alternative routes between the UK and the Falkland Islands are available in the event of a closure to aircraft of Ascension Island.

Bob Ainsworth: Since September 2006 no flights between the UK and the Falklands Islands have been cancelled owing to weather conditions preventing aircraft from landing on Ascension Island. Records prior to this are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. In the event of Ascension Island being closed to aircraft, alternative routes between the UK and the Falkland Islands would be managed on a case by case basis.

Iraq: Security

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many private military and security companies are operating in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: I have been asked to reply.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office currently contracts four private military and security companies to protect its property and staff in Iraq. Those companies are Control Risks Group, GardaWorld, Minimal Risks and ArmorGroup. There is no information available to ascertain how many other companies are also operating in Iraq.

Iraq-Kuwait Conflict

Alan Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on examining matters raised by Gulf War veterans in each of the last five years.

Kevan Jones: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the needs of Gulf veterans and their dependants remain a priority for the Government. Appropriate medical treatment is provided by the NHS. Financial support is available to eligible Gulf veterans and dependants through MOD war pensions and armed forces occupational pension schemes. The UK has undertaken a substantial amount of research into the possible causes of Gulf veterans' illnesses costing some £9 million from 1997 onwards. The focus of our research effort is now on rehabilitative therapies for those veterans with persistent symptoms as recommended by the Medical Research Council. A contract has been awarded to Cardiff university, acknowledged experts in this field, and work has begun on a rehabilitation research programme.

Navy: Manpower

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) trained,  (b) actual strength and  (c) numbers fit for duty requirement is for the Royal Navy's Submarine Service.

Bob Ainsworth: The submariner liability at 1 February 2009 is provided in the following table:
	
		
			   Submariner liability 
			 Officers 860 
			 Ranks 3,430 
			 Grand total 4,290 
		
	
	The submariner trained regular strength at 1 February 2009 is provided in the following table:
	
		
			   Submariner trained regular strength 
			 Officers 940 
			 Ranks 3,370 
			 Grand total 4,310 
		
	
	The apparent surplus of submariner officers and the near balance of submariner ratings masks significant shortfalls in the sea-going population where some ranks/specialisations have insufficient numbers of suitably qualified and experienced personnel.
	Information regarding fit for duty requirement is not currently available. I refer the hon. Member to the answer the Under-Secretary of State my hon. Friend the Member for North Durham (Mr. Jones) gave on 20 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 1262-64W, to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox). Further information should be available by summer 2009 (subject to validation exercises) using data from the Defence Medical Information Capability programme as identified in the House of Commons Defence Committee Readiness Inquiry.

Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what main injuries were sustained by each  (a) very seriously injured or wounded and  (b) seriously injured or wounded member of the armed forces personnel in (i) Iraq in each year since 2003 and (ii) Afghanistan in each year since 2002.

Kevan Jones: The Ministry of Defence publishes the numbers of personnel categorised as very seriously injured and seriously injured as a result of Operations TELIC and HERRICK on its website
	www.mod.uk
	The figures are updated fortnightly.
	We do not routinely sub-classify VSI and SI by the type of injury sustained, although academic work is in hand examining the nature of injuries sustained, which subject to security applications will be considered for publication.
	Some figures have previously been collated on amputee numbers. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence informed the House in a written answer on 16 December 2008,  Official Report, column 554W, between 1 December 2007 and 30 November 2008 a total of 24 service personnel have suffered amputations due to injuries sustained while on operational deployment; one in Iraq and 23 in Afghanistan. These amputations can range from the loss of part of a finger or toe up to the loss of entire limb(s).

Peacekeeping Operations

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average pay was for  (a) lance corporals and  (b) privates serving in Iraq and Afghanistan at the latest date for which information is available.

Bob Ainsworth: Service personnel receive the same basic pay regardless of where in the world they are serving. The average annual basic pay of lance corporals and privates and their equivalents in the RN/RM and RAF is provided in the table. The averages shown are based on pay rates for 2009-10 as announced by the Government on 31 March 2009 and service numbers as at January 2009.
	
		
			  Rank  Average annual basic pay 
			 Lance Corporal and Equivalent 24,401.97 
			 Private and Equivalent 22,357.47 
		
	
	Service personnel serving a six month tour in Iraq and Afghanistan will also be eligible for the following: tax free operational allowance currently £2,380; tax free council tax relief currently £145; and longer separation allowance, of which the minimum level currently payable is £1,194.

Somalia: Piracy

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the EU/Kenya agreement with respect to the prosecution of pirates; and what support the EU has provided to the Kenyan authorities for their activities in relation to the prosecution of pirates.

Bob Ainsworth: Appropriate arrangements for the prosecution of suspected pirates are important to ensuring the maximum effectiveness of the EU counter-piracy operation Atalanta. We welcome the signature of the EU/Kenya exchange of letters on 6 March 2009 for the transfer of persons suspected of committing acts of piracy.
	Nine suspected pirates were transferred to Kenya by the EU operation Atalanta on 10 March but it is too early to assess the effectiveness of the agreement.
	The EU will be sending a delegation to Kenya next week to assess the level of support that the Kenyan authorities require in the prosecution of pirates. The EU continues to seek appropriate arrangements with other regional states to ensure that the burden of potential prosecution is shared. The International Contact Group on piracy off the coast of Somalia is also working on building capacity and capability in the region to prosecute pirates.

Veterans Agency

Alan Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the budget of the Veterans Agency was in each of the last five years; and how many people it employed in each such year;
	(2)  how much the Veterans Agency spent in each of the last five years.

Kevan Jones: The Veterans Agency (VA) merged with the Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency in April 2007 to become the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA).
	The VA and SPVA's allocated budgets, operational costs, and staff numbers in the last five years is provided in the tables. Details of the agencies' operational costs and staff numbers can also be found in the VA annual report and accounts for financial years 2003-04 to 2006-07, and the SPVA annual report and accounts for financial year 2007-08. Copies of these are held in the Library of the House.
	
		
			  VA 
			  FY  Budget (£000)  Amount spent (£000)  Staff number 
			 2003-04 33,515 29,947 844 
			 2004-05 31,067 29,409 844 
			 2005-06 34,663 32,420 836 
			 2006-07 34,883 33,277 817 
		
	
	
		
			  SPVA 
			  FY  Budget (£000)  Amount spent (£000)  Staff number 
			 2007-08 130,870 134,650 1,111 
			  Note:  The Amount Spent figures represent the Net Operating Costs excluding notional and non-cash costs.

Veterans Agency

Alan Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the Veterans Agency spent on legal representation in each of the last five years.

Kevan Jones: The Veterans Agency (VA) merged with the Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency in April 2007 to become the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA).
	The amount spent on VA and SPVA legal costs is provided in the tables.
	
		
			  VA 
			  F Y  £ 
			 2003-04 6,031 
			 2004-05 23,657 
			 2005-06 60,245 
			 2006-07 208,155 
		
	
	
		
			  SPVA 
			  FY  £ 
			 2007-08 128,000

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Charities

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent assessment the Charity Commission has made of the effect of the recession on charities.

David Evennett: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment the Charity Commission has made of the effect of the recession on charities.

John Howell: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment the Charity Commission has made of the effects of the recession on charities.

Kevin Brennan: I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier today.

Civil Service

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans the Government have to create additional jobs in the civil service during the recession.

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans the Government have to create additional jobs in the civil service during the recession.

Tom Watson: I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier today.

Grassroots Organisations

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he is taking to increase the availability of funding for grassroots organisations.

Liam Byrne: The Government are committed to delivering real help to communities, right where it is needed. The £130 million grassroots grants scheme, as well as the £15.5 million targeted support fund, target deprivation so those areas in most need get the most help.
	In Bristol alone we are investing nearly £1.1 million through grassroots grants, including more than £400,000 through the endowment match challenge.

Voluntary Groups

Phil Wilson: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assistance he is providing to volunteering organisations that work with unemployed people.

Liam Byrne: In January 2008 the Government announced that it will provide up to £10 million to volunteering organisations to create access-to-work-focused volunteering opportunities for people who have been claiming Jobseeker's Allowance for six months.
	In addition, in February 2008 we announced a new £15.5 million targeted support fund, which will provide support to third sector organisations providing essential services in the recession. This will include helping people develop skills and access jobs.

Civil Servants: Hospitality

David Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what arrangements his Department has established for the annual publication of details of hospitality and entertainment received by senior civil servants; and if he will make a statement.

Tom Watson: The first ever list of hospitality received by board members of Government Departments was published in February.

Balance of Trade

Brooks Newmark: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the UK's trade balance in  (a) goods,  (b) services,  (c) total excluding oil and  (d) total was with (i) other EU member states, (ii) Germany, (iii) USA and (iv) Japan in each year since 1997.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated April 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your question asking for the UK trade balance in (a) goods, (b) services, (c) total excluding oil and (d) total with (i) other EU member states, (ii) Germany, (iii) USA and (iv) Japan in each year since 1997 (268049).
	The available figures are given in the table. The figures are consistent with those published in the Balance of Payments 4th Quarter and annual 2008 First Release published on 27 March 2008. Some detailed breakdowns are not available. Totals excluding oil can only be shown for trade with EU. EU data for the 27 Member States are available from 1998 for Goods and from 1999 for Services.
	Separate estimates for Services for Germany are made during the annual Pink Book production, although the figure for 2007 published in Pink Book 2008 has been updated in the table. The 2008 figure will be published later in 2009.
	
		
			  Table: UK balances of (a) Goods, (b) Services, ( c ) Total excluding Oil, (d) Total with (i) EU 27, (ii) Germany, (iii) USA, (iv) Japan 
			  £ million 
			   EU 27  Germany 
			   Goods  Services  Tota l e xcl. oil  Total trade  Goods  Services  Total trade 
			 1997 — — — — -4,947 1,483 -3,464 
			 1998 -5,712 — — — -4,496 1,512 -2,984 
			 1999 -8,085 -1,727 -14,405 -9,812 -6,348 1,001 -5,347 
			 2000 -5,185 -1,638 -14,546 -6,823 -5,673 1,977 -3,696 
			 2001 -12,567 -836 -21,090 -13,403 -6,537 1,954 -4,583 
			 2002 -22,194 -1,409 -30,722 -23,603 -10,378 2,097 -8,281 
			 2003 -26,118 -1,143 -34,259 -27,261 -12,862 2,280 -10,582 
			 2004 -30,873 520 -37,740 -30,353 -13,713 1,753 -11,960 
			 2005 -36,577 -682 -46,163 -37,359 -16,144 1,388 -14,756 
			 2006 -31,391 1,249 -41,119 -30,142 -15,058 1,798 -13,260 
			 2007 -41,986 4,885 -46,307 -37,101 -19,866 2,153 -17,909 
			 2008 -39,186 8,786 -43,117 -30,400 -16,574 — — 
		
	
	
		
			  £ million 
			   USA  Japan 
			   Goods  Services  Total trade  Goods  Services  Total trade 
			 1997 -3,476 4,973 1,497 -4,851 1,555 -3,296 
			 1998 -3,703 4,120 417 -5,997 1,505 -4,492 
			 1999 -320 5,136 4,816 -5,818 1,924 -3,894 
			 2000 860 6,069 6,929 -6,542 1,805 -4,737 
			 2001 -101 5,708 5,607 -5,407 1,742 -3,665 
			 2002 3,048 9,287 12,335 -4,496 2,395 -2,101 
			 2003 5,815 9,115 14,930 -4,375 2,166 -2,209 
			 2004 6,486 10,463 16,949 -4,246 2,517 -1,729 
			 2005 8,729 8,201 16,930 -4,769 2,042 -2,727 
			 2006 6,547 12,039 18,586 -3,748 1,526 -2,222 
			 2007 6,310 14,198 20,508 -4,019 1,603 -2,416 
			 2008 9,284 16,322 25,606 -4,598 1,491 -3,107

Departmental Public Expenditure

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what  (a) capital and  (b) resource funds the Cabinet Office has brought forward from its (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11 budgets for use in (A) 2008-09 and (B) 2009-10; and what schemes this funding is being used to support.

Kevin Brennan: The Cabinet Office has no present plans to change any existing capital or resource expenditure plans for 2008-09, 2009-10 or 2010-11.

Employment: Lone Parents

Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many single parents were in full-time employment in  (a) Ribble Valley constituency and  (b) the UK in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated March 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many single parents were in full-time employment in (a) Ribble Valley constituency and (b) the UK in each of the last five years for which figures are available. (267794)
	Table 1 attached shows the number of lone parents below state pension age with dependent children for the United Kingdom for the calendar years 2004 to 2007, who were in full time employment. Estimates are not available for the Ribble Valley due to insufficient sample sizes in each year.
	Estimates are derived from the Annual Population Survey (APS) household datasets and are only available for January to December for the years 2004 to 2007. Estimates for 2008 will be available from summer 2009.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of lone parents( 1)  with dependent children( 2)  in full-time employment in the UK, 2004 to 2007, January to December of each year 
			   Level (thousand) 
			 2004 483 
			 2005 530 
			 2006 534 
			 2007 532 
			 (1) Men aged 16 to 64 and women aged 16 to 59. (2) Dependent children are children aged under 16 and those 16 to 18 who are never-married and in full-time education.  Source: Annual Population Survey household data sets

Unemployment

Roger Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the average rate of unemployment in  (a) urban and  (b) rural areas was in each region in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question, asking what the average rate of unemployment in (a) urban and (b) rural areas was in each region in each of the last three years. (266450)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles unemployment statistics for areas of Great Britain smaller than countries or English regions from the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions.
	Table 1, attached, shows the estimates of people unemployed as a percentage of all economically active persons aged 16 and over resident in urban and rural areas in each region. Figures for 2006 to 2008 are for the 12 month period ending March that year and taken from the APS. Estimates for July 2007 to June 2008 have also been provided, the most recent period for which figures are available.
	These estimates, as with any from sample surveys, are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	
		
			  Table 1: Unemployment rates( 1)  for people aged 16 and over in (a) Urban and (b) Rural areas in each region in each of the last three years 
			  Percentage 
			   March 2006  March 2007  March 2008  June 2008 
			  North East 
			 Urban 6.5 7.0 6.9 7.1 
			 Rural 4.8 5.1 4.5 4.6 
			  North West 
			 Urban 5.4 6.0 6.1 6.2 
			 Rural 2.7 2.2 2.9 3.0 
			  Yorkshire and the Humber 
			 Urban 5.7 6.1 5.6 6.1 
			 Rural 3.1 3.7 3.6 3.5 
			  East Midlands 
			 Urban 5.4 5.9 6.1 6.3 
			 Rural 3.0 3.4 3.1 3.2 
			  West Midlands 
			 Urban 5.9 6.1 6.8 6.8 
			 Rural 2.4 2.6 3.6 3.3 
			  East 
			 Urban 4.5 5.0 4.6 4.7 
			 Rural 3.0 3.4 3.4 3.2 
			  London 
			 Urban 7.7 7.3 6.7 6.4 
			 Rural (2)— (2)— (2)— (2)— 
			  South East 
			 Urban 4.2 4.6 4.3 4.5 
			 Rural 3.2 3.8 3.2 3.1 
			  South West 
			 Urban 3.7 4.3 4.1 4.3 
			 Rural 2.7 3.1 3.2 2.9 
			  Wales 
			 Urban 6.0 6.0 6.4 6.3 
			 Rural 3.7 4.3 4.3 4.3 
			  Scotland 
			 Urban 6.1 6.1 5.0 4.9 
			 Rural 4.1 3.6 3.7 3.6 
			 (1) Unemployed as a percentage of the economically active population (2) Data not available or disclosive  Source:  Annual Population Survey